A Minnesota judge warned Monday that he will likely move the trials of four former police officers charged with the death of George Floyd of Minneapolis if public officials and lawyers do not stop talking about the case. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill spoke when the former officers, who were fired after Floyd’s death on May 25, appeared in court for a second pre-trial hearing.
Cahill did not go so far as to issue a gag order to the lawyers, but said it is likely to continue if public statements continue. Cahill added that such a situation would also make it likely that he would grant a motion to change places if one is filed.
“The court will not be happy to hear about the case in three areas: media, evidence, and guilt or innocence,” Cahill said.
Derek Chauvin 44, is charged with second-degree murder and other charges, while Thomas Lane, 37, J. Kueng, 26, and Tou Thao, 34, are accused of aiding and abetting Chauvin. Lane and Kueng, who have posted bail, were seen entering the courtroom, where cameras were not allowed. Thao, who remains in custody along with Chauvin, appeared in person, while Chauvin appeared by video from a detention center.
NICHOLAS PFOSI / REUTERS
Floyd died after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against the neck of the 46-year-old handcuffed black man for nearly eight minutes. Officers responded to a call about a man trying to pass a counterfeit $ 20 bill at a nearby store.
Floyd’s death was universally condemned in Minnesota, with elected officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, calling for officers to be charged. Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said Floyd’s death was “murder”. A disturbing video of Floyd’s death sparked massive protests across the country protesting systemic racism and police brutality against black and brown men and women.
During Monday’s hearing, Cahill asked Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank to use his influence to keep public officials silent, warning that if they continued to discuss it publicly, they would likely “have to withdraw (lawsuits) from Hennepin County and they would need do what”. keep that in mind. “
Defense attorney Robert Paule, who represents Thao, said he is “fighting this battle with one hand” due to pre-trial publicity, the Star-Tribune reports.
Frank said prosecutors are “equally interested in a fair trial and are very aware of the problems” related to advertising, the newspaper reports.
“We have asked people not to talk about this case … we have done everything possible to raise the concerns of the court and we will continue to do so,” said Frank.
Hennepin County Jail
Cahill set a trial date of March 8 for the ex-officers if they are to be tried together, although he said he expects applications to be filed to separate their trials. The next court date is September 11.
The defendants have not presented allegations. Chauvin’s lawyer has not made public comments on the charges, while Lane and Kueng’s lawyers have tried to minimize the roles of your customers and divert blame to the highest Chauvin in Floyd’s death. Chauvin remains in custody on $ 1 million bail and Thao is detained on $ 750,000 bail.
Cahill also rejected a defense request to reconsider his previous decision to ban cameras in the courtroom during pre-trial proceedings. Defense attorneys asked to allow such coverage, but prosecutors opposed it. The judge has not decided whether cameras are allowed for the trial itself, which in Minnesota generally requires the consent of all parties.
Kueng’s lawyer, Tom Plunkett, was the lawyer who asked Cahill to reconsider his decision on camera. He claimed that prosecutors and other officials lost their right to object to cameras in the courtroom by making public comments that went as far as “saying the defendants are guilty of murder.” He said allowing electronic coverage of pre-trial proceedings would actually make it easier to catch a fair jury by helping to “educate the public that there may be more to the cases than the state has told them to do.”
The charges against Chauvin are second-degree manslaughter, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, third-degree murder carries up to 25 years and murder up to 10.
The other three former officers are accused of aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and second-degree murder. Those charges are legally equivalent to the charges against Chauvin and carry the same penalties.
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