The judge on Thursday upheld second-degree murder and manslaughter charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in connection with the May death of George Floyd.
Hennepin County Judge Peter A. Cahill contributed to the pace of the defense and charged Chauvin with third-degree murder.
Cahill also denied the motions against the other three officers present, while Chauvin was caught on video kneeling on Floyd’s neck nine minutes before his death in custody. Tau Thao, j. Alexander Cueng and Thomas Lane have been charged with aiding and abetting a nationwide count of racial injustice.
Democrat, Minnesota Govt. Tim Wallace, reacting to the decision on Twitter, said the judge’s move to support the remaining charges against Chauvin as well as the charges against other officials was “an important step towards justice for George Floyd.”
Defense attorney Eric Nells, who represents Chauvin, declined to comment on Fox News.
Prosecutors argued that officers had a probable reason to prosecute all charges, that Chauvin deliberately assaulted Flood, an element of the second-degree murder charge, and that other officers helped. Defense attorneys argued there was not enough probable reason to charge the former officers. Chauvin’s attorneys argued that his client had no intention of attacking or killing Floyd, while attorneys for other officers argued that their clients had no intention or intent to help Chauvin.
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The Associated Press contributes to this report.
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