US police officer convicted of killing George Floyd appeals sentence

The policeman who killed the African-American George Floyd request the annulment of the sentence for “murder”, in an appeal trial starting this Wednesday more than anything symbolic.

Derek Chauvin46, was found guilty of murder by a northern Minnesota state court at a 2021 trial and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.

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In the petition, his lawyers recall “the threats” against the jurors, the fear of a new wave of protests if he was acquitted, and the daily coverage by the local media that “idealized George Floyd and demonized Derek Chauvin”.

He argues that at least the trial should have been held somewhere else where potential jurors weren’t exposed to as much publicity surrounding the case as those in Minneapolis. He asks the court to set aside the conviction or at least the sentence.

Even if he were to win this appeal trial, Derek Chauvin would still be in jail because he pleaded guilty to “civil rights violations” of George Floyd before a federal judge and received a final sentence of 21 years in prison in 2022.

On May 25, 2020, this 19-year-old Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyd’s neck for nearly ten minutes, oblivious to his moans and the pleas of terrified bystanders.

The scene, recorded and posted online, sparked protests against racism and police brutality across the United States and in other countries.

During the trial in the local court, his lawyer claimed that George Floyd died of an overdose, along with health problems, and claimed that Derek Chauvin had used force justifiably.

Now the ex-police seeks to invalidate the trial. In the petition, his lawyers recall “the threats” against the juries, the fear of a new wave of protest if he was acquitted and the daily coverage of the local media that “idealized George Floyd and demonized Derek Chauvin”.

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He argued that at least the trial should have been held somewhere else where potential jurors were not as exposed to the publicity surrounding the case as those in Minneapolis. He asked the court to set aside his conviction or at least his sentence.

They also claim that a member of the jury hid having participated in the demonstrations after the death of George Floyd.

Prosecutors allege that the trial was “one of the most accurate and transparent” of the story, that jury selection lasted two weeks and that the verdict must be upheld.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.