| USA TODAY
Trial of Derek Chauvin: former officer charged with the death of George Floyd
At the start of the trial of a former police officer accused of killing George Floyd, here’s what you need to know about the case.
USA TODAY
Minneapolis is preparing for the trial this month of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer accused of the death of George Floyd, who sparked protests across the country and calls for an end to police brutality last summer.
On May 25, Chauvin was seen in a video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd shouted that he couldn’t breathe. Floyd, who was accused of using a counterfeit $ 20 bill, was handcuffed and pinned to the ground by three police officers during his arrest. Chauvin continued to press his knee to Floyd’s neck minutes after he stopped responding, while passersby repeatedly asked police officers to check for a pulse.
Chauvin and three other officers were fired the day after Floyd’s death and charged the following week.
Floyd’s name became a rallying cry when protests spread to more than 1,700 cities and towns in all 50 states and around the world.
In Minneapolis, thousands of protesters demanded that police officers be held accountable and called for police reform. Although many demonstrations were peaceful, business was looted on several nights and a police station was set on fire.
Last month, city officials began to solidify security plans and establish a security perimeter around City Hall, nearby buildings and the court where jury selection will begin on Monday. Streets will be closed, businesses will be boarded up and National Guard troops and hundreds of police officers will be on the scene in anticipation of potential disturbances during the trial, scheduled to begin on March 29.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the trial is likely to add to the trauma for many, especially as the verdict approaches, and safety will be a priority.
“We believe that we must honor the magnitude of this moment and ensure that our families in this city feel safe,” said Frey.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Derek Chauvin trial:
When does the Derek Chauvin trial begin?
The jury selection is scheduled to start on Monday. The prosecution and the defense are due to start declarations on March 29.
What is Chauvin accused of?
In May, Chauvin was charged with manslaughter and manslaughter, but could face additional charges.
An appeals court is considering a request by prosecutors to reinstate a third-degree murder charge against Chauvin. That count was rejected in October by Judge Peter Cahill, who said the charge would apply only if a defendant put several people in danger and someone died. (Under Minnesota law, third-degree murder involves “perpetrating an eminently dangerous act for others and showing a depraved mind.”)
The three other former officers involved – Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao – are accused of assisting and inciting second-degree murder and manslaughter. They are scheduled for trial together in August.
Chauvin paid $ 1 million bail in October and was released from state prison.
Chauvin also faces federal investigation and civil action
This is not the only time that Chauvin may face legal repercussions related to Floyd’s death.
The Justice Department launched an investigation in May to see whether Chauvin and the other officers violated Floyd’s civil rights. Last week, new witnesses were called and a new grand jury was included in the investigation, according to the Star Tribune and The New York Times.
Lawyers representing Floyd’s family filed a civil suit in July in federal court against Chauvin, the other officers and the city of Minneapolis. The lawsuit alleges that police officers used excessive force and violated Floyd’s constitutional rights and that the city is responsible for not properly training police officers.
George Floyd is not alone: ‘I can’t breathe’ delivered by dozens of fatal police officers across the U.S.
‘He will never see it grow’: George Floyd mourned by children, family, friends and strangers
How can people attend the trial?
Chauvin’s trial will be broadcast live on Court TV, which will be the only network with cameras in the courtroom.
Visual and audio recordings are not normally allowed in Minnesota courts without the authorization of a judge. Cahill upheld his decision to broadcast the trial live in December due to immense global interest in the case and the limited space of the court.
Two members of the media will be allowed in court. USA TODAY is sending a team of journalists who you can follow on Twitter to get updates when the test starts: Tami Abdollah, Eric Ferkenhoff, Trevor Hughes, Clarissa Baker and N’dea Yancey-Bragg.
Where’s the trial?
The trial will be held at the Hennepin County Government Center Courts Tower in downtown Minneapolis. The building, which has been the scene of several demonstrations, is surrounded by barbed wire and concrete barriers.
Chauvin will be tried separately to comply with restrictions on physical social distance during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an order by Cahill.
Only those with approved credentials will be allowed to enter the court, including a member of the Floyd and Chauvin families, according to an order issued by Cahill on Monday.
“This has been a deeply painful and exciting year for all members of the Floyd family, many of whom intended to be in court to witness this trial,” family lawyers Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement. demonstration Tuesday. “Although they understand the judge’s reasons for limiting court attendance, the family is understandably disappointed by this decision.”
What protests are planned?
More than a dozen activist groups, including Black Lives Matter Minnesota and Communities United Against Police Brutality, plan an out-of-court rally on Monday, starting at 8:30 am CST, KARE 11 reported.
“People demand justice for all the lives they have stolen. Condemn all murderous policemen,” the coalition said in a statement. “Derek Chauvin represents what is wrong with the police in Minneapolis and in this country, and now is the time to demand proper justice for George Floyd and set the precedent in seeking justice for every stolen life.”
The George Floyd Global Memorial will hold a meeting with religious leaders at George Floyd Square at 8 am CST, ending in a candlelight vigil at 6 pm, some of which will be broadcast live, according to the group’s website.
How did we get here? A timeline of events that led to protests across the country after George Floyd’s death
Security preparations underway for the Chauvin trial
Officers are reassuring the public that they are ready to keep Minneapolis and St. Paul safe during the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer accused of the death of George Floyd. (March 1st)
AP
The police are on trial in some other high profile murders of black Americans?
Floyd’s death was one of several high-profile incidents of violence against African Americans – almost all involving the police, except one fatal.
Amid protests across the country, other policemen and chiefs were dismissed, resigned or accused; states and cities announced that they were cutting funds for police departments and criminalizing the use of deadly restrictions; and federal lawmakers introduced a comprehensive police review bill under the name of Floyd.
Several juries have refused to make accusations against police officers accused of killing unarmed blacks.
The protests started in Kentucky after no Louisville police were charged with killing Breonna Taylor when they shot him in his apartment last year. . In New York, grand jurors refused to file a charge against police officers involved in the death of Daniel Prude, 41, who died in Rochester.
Contributing: The Associated Press
Follow N’dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg