MINNEAPOLIS: A choose in Minnesota on Thursday determined to deliver a brand new homicide cost in opposition to Derek Chauvin, the police officer on trial for the racially-motivated killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man.
The 44-year-old Chauvin already faces costs of second-degree homicide and manslaughter in reference to Floyd’s Could 25, 2020, dying in Minneapolis.
Prosecutors had requested the Hennepin County choose listening to the case to reinstate a third-degree homicide cost in opposition to Chauvin within the high-profile trial.
Choose Peter Cahill agreed to reinstate the third-degree homicide cost on Thursday after greater courts dominated he ought to achieve this.
Second-degree homicide carries a most sentence of 40 years in jail whereas third-degree homicide carries a most sentence of 25 years.
Jury choice within the case started on Tuesday and 5 jurors have been chosen for the panel to date. Twelve jurors and two alternates will hear the case.
A video of Chauvin, who’s white, kneeling on the neck of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, sparked a summer season of protests in opposition to police brutality and racial injustice throughout the US.
Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police pressure, has pleaded not responsible.
Opening arguments within the trial are anticipated on March 29 with a verdict on the finish of April.
