A Minnesota judge has dismissed a third-degree murder charge filed against the former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee against George Floyd’s neck, but the more serious second-degree murder charge remains.
After Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill’s ruling, Derek Chauvin now faces two counts going forward: second-degree murder and manslaughter. Cahill also denies defense requests to dismiss the aiding and abetting counts against three other former officers, Thomas Lane, J. Jueng and Tou Thao.
This photo provided by the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office shows former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was arrested May 29, 2020, in the death of George Floyd. (Courtesy of Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
Floyd, a US Black man who was in handcuffs, died May 25 after Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for some 10 minutes as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe and became motionless.
All four officers were fired.
Prosecutors have argued there is probable cause for the officers to go to trial on all of the charges, saying Chauvin intentionally assaulted Floyd, which is an element of the second-degree murder charge, and that the other officers assisted.
Defense attorneys have argued that there is not enough probable cause to charge the former officers. Chauvin’s attorney has said his client had no intent to assault or kill Floyd, while attorneys for the other officers argued that their clients did not intend or conspire to help Chauvin.
— AP
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