Former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, who was convicted in the 2020 murder of George Floyd, wants a new trial.
Chauvin is currently serving a 22.5-year prison sentence after being found guilty of state and federal convictions. Four years after the verdict that ended his career, Chauvin’s attorney is now seeking to reopen the case.
According to reports, Chauvin’s attorney, Gregory Joseph, submitted a 71-page motion in Hennepin County District Court asking to have three convictions vacated, including second-degree murder.
The motion argues that the ex-cop was “denied a fair trial due to prosecutorial misconduct and improper jury instructions.” The defense also claims that there was “false or misleading testimony from key witnesses.”
Joseph also argued that enough time has gone by to revisit the case without public pressure. If you remember, the death of Floyd caused widespread protests, which started the “Black Lives Matter” movement. He believes the court can review the case “through a clear lens.”
The motion also argues that the prosecution’s medical expert’s testimony was based on the video footage of Floyd’s death instead of the autopsy findings.
It goes on to challenge the way the video evidence was presented to jurors by the prosecutors, and that Judge Peter Cahill “misinstructed the jurors on points of the law.”
Derek Chauvin and his legal team are requesting a new trial date from the court. If it’s denied, his attorneys will seek an evidentiary hearing to further argue their claims.
