In a hearing on Wednesday, Derek Chauvin’s attorney argued that Minnesota should overturn his state murder conviction in the killing of George Floyd.
The court has 90 days to make a decision on the appeal.
The former Minneapolis police officer was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in June 2021 after he was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Chauvin was found guilty of pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck for more than 9 minutes, resulting in Floyd’s death in May 2020. The death triggered a wave of protests against police misconduct and a racial reckoning nationwide.
Chauvin’s attorney, William F. Mohrman, will argue that pretrial publicity “was more extensive than in any trial ever in Minnesota,” and that publicity, ongoing civil unrest, alleged exclusion of evidence and “misconduct” from the prosecution led to an unfair trial, according to court documents.
Mohrman cites the local death of Daunte Wright, a Black man killed by police while Chauvin’s trial was pending; Minneapolis’ $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family; and the exclusion of evidence concerning Floyd’s past arrest as laying the foundation for an unfavorable trial outcome.
Mohrman is also questioning whether Chauvin’s third-degree murder should be overturned “because this charge allowed the state to introduce evidence of Chauvin’s ‘depraved mind’ which is irrelevant to unintentional second degree murder.”
The appellant brief, filed last year, requests the state “either reverse his conviction, reverse and remand for a new trial in a new venue or remand for re-sentencing.”
Chauvin was also sentenced to 21 years in prison on federal civil rights charges after pleading guilty to violating Floyd’s civil rights and using unreasonable and excessive force, even after he was aware Floyd had lost consciousness and a pulse.
I think the man is a racist and a lousy police officer, but I do not think he had in mind to kill Floyd in open view of every body.
It was manslaughter or negligent homicide and he should do time for that
Good Officer Derek Chauvin is completely INNOCENT!
Piece of shiiite stoner career criminal George Floyd SUICIDED himself perpetrating one last crime !!! Good riddance!
This was all Democrats EVIL !!!
He did Not kill the Criminal. even the Medical People said the same. He was a Criminal who Died from a Drug Overdose. He is in the Arms of Satin. Also Chauvin did not press on the Scums Neck, very long, if at all. There is NO proof that there was any neck injury.
There was a mountain of evidence not allowed in Chauvin’s kangaroo trial. Further, key evidence introduced at the trial was not taken seriously. Floyd was a serial drug abuser & probably would have died on his own at home.
Chauvin has serious grounds for a new trial and would win as there is more than reasonable doubt about his unfair treatment by the Judge, & the biased press.
Chauvin did exactly what he was taught to do. The perp was big, on drugs, strong and fighting back, so it was Floyd or the Police. Chauvin should be released ASAP!
Chauvin is nothing but a bully with a badge. Something bad was bound to happen eventually. All the cops (that were present) had to do was handcuff him and put him in the back of a police car. He (Chauvin) was punishing Floyd as they had previous run-ins. Either way, the career criminal is permanently off the streets and the bully cop should be too until he’s too old to man-handle anyone. On the other side, I’m sure there’s PLENTY of Floyd supporters biting at the bit for Chauvin to be released so that they can dish out a little justice of their own!? IDK, Lose-lose situation either way? I think bad things will happen (social unrest) if he’s released.
They tried to put Floyd in the police car 3 times, but he resisted, preferring to die of an overdose of fentanyl evidence he swallowed when he saw cops coming, while lying on the ground… instead of going to jail or a hospital,,,