Judge presiding over hearing of ex-Minneapolis police Derek Chauvin’s murder Death of george floyd On Tuesday, he said it would consider delaying the trial in the wake of a $ 27 million civil settlement for Floyd’s family.
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said he would raise the issue on Wednesday when Chauvin’s lawyer complained this week that the news of a massive settlement in the case may have stigmatized the jury.
“You would agree that this is unfortunate, right?” Cahill on Monday asked prosecutors about the sudden revelation of a multi-million dollar settlement.
“It’s definitely not my priority, your honor,” said Steve Schleicher, a lawyer for the prosecution team.
Cahill dismissed a gambler on Tuesday morning because the man was aware of the settlement and would likely continue to read the news of the issue because of his job.
The judge also said that he would recall the seven gamblers sitting before the news broke whether the new development would alter their ability to be impartial in hearing the case.
The issue arose during jury selection on Monday, when Chauvin’s attorney Eric Nelson said settlement terms could make a fair trial impossible.
Nelson said he found it “surprised” that the city would announce a settlement in the wrongful death case “right in the middle of jury selection.”
Their concerns were immediately confirmed.
The first prospective gambler, who was called for questioning on Monday, admitted that he had heard the settlement report and felt that it could no longer be impartial.
The woman, who works in human resources, said that “generally, prior observance of evidence in civil cases tends toward crime.”
The judge said that eight of the final 11 potential panelists have been dismissed.
Nelson is asking Cahill to stop the trial, and to reconsider his earlier request that the proceedings be moved out of Minneapolis due to the high-profile nature of the case – the judge requests that he consider .
Also on Tuesday, lawyers from both sides revisited the issue of Floyd’s arrest earlier, According to USA Today.
Cahill ruled in January that the 2019 arrests could not be made – but said on Tuesday that he would reconsider following Nelson’s argument that he was relevant.
Chauvin, 44, is charged with second-degree murder, mansloth, and a newly installed charge in Floyd’s death on May 25.
A viral video of the incident shows Chauvin, then a policeman pressing his knee to the back of Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes despite his pleas that he cannot breathe.
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