Chauvin’s appeal comes after his previous request for a new trial was denied by an appeals court.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has requested the Minnesota Supreme Court to review his murder conviction in the killing of George Floyd
His attorneys, in the court documents filed on Wednesday, reiterated several arguments from their earlier filings, including the claim that the district court’s denial of a change of venue violated Chauvin’s right to a fair trial due to extensive adverse publicity.
Chauvin’s legal team stated that these reasons constituted grounds for a new trial and urged the state’s highest court to review the appeals court’s decision. The Minnesota Supreme Court has not yet indicated whether it will grant a review. In April 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, resulting in a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison exceeding the state’s guideline range.
Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal charges related to violating George Floyd’s civil rights, resulting in a concurrent 21-year sentence
The widely circulated body camera and bystander videos recorded Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck and back for over nine minutes while Floyd repeatedly expressed his inability to breathe. George Floyd‘s tragic death ignited nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights conducted an investigation and determined that the city of Minneapolis and its police department engaged in a “pattern or practice of race discrimination.” Currently, Chauvin is serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona.
Chauvin’s attorney, William Mohrman, had previously listed multiple aspects of the case and trial that he argued tainted the proceedings, including extensive pretrial publicity, protests outside the courthouse, and the city’s announcement of a $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family during jury selection. The defense team also accused prosecutors of misconduct, alleging inadequate disclosure of discovery information and preparation of prosecution witnesses.
However, a three-judge panel of the Minnesota Court of Appeals recently upheld Chauvin’s conviction, stating that he failed to demonstrate actual prejudice. During Chauvin’s sentencing in June 2021, Judge Peter Cahill emphasized the gravity of the case, noting Chauvin’s abuse of authority and lack of respect towards Floyd, which warranted a harsher sentence.
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