…Researched and contributed by Judah Olanisebee.
Derek Chauvin Loses Appeal for New Trial for George Floyd’s Murder
The Minnesota Court of Appeals denied Derek Chauvin’s request for a new trial over the killing of George Floyd, meaning his 22 and a half-year sentence remains in place.
Chauvin had claimed that the excessive publicity and security measures and the revelation that a juror had attended a civil rights march prejudiced his trial.
However, a three-judge panel dismissed his claims and sided with the prosecutors, stating that Chauvin received a fair trial and sentence.
Background and Trial
Nearly three years after George Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, and was sentenced to 22 and a half years.
Judge Peter Reyes stated that police officers must be held accountable for their crimes, just like any other individual they lawfully apprehend.
Chauvin had knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, leading to his death.
Appeal Arguments
Chauvin’s appeal focused on whether he could have received a fair trial in a courthouse surrounded by concrete blocks, barbed wire, and National Guard troops, with extensive pretrial publicity, riots, and protests.
His appeal also centered around a juror who participated in a civil rights event commemorating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, which the juror revealed only after the trial.
However, Neal Katyal, a special attorney for the state, argued that the evidence of Chauvin’s guilt was captured on video for the world to see, and that Judge Cahill managed the trial with enormous care.
Final Ruling and Concurrent Sentence
The appeals court ruling stated that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in deciding the issues, and hence, Chauvin’s request for a new trial was rejected.
Chauvin also pleaded guilty to a separate federal civil rights charge and was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison, which he is now serving concurrently with his state sentence in Arizona.
Floyd’s death led to protests around the world and forced a national reckoning with police brutality and racism.