3rd week of jury selection; 13 of 15 jurors

MINNEAPOLIS — Jury choice within the homicide trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin entered its third week Monday, with simply seven days to go earlier than opening statements and at the least two jurors nonetheless to be seated.

Thirteen jurors have been seated thus far. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill stated the court docket would decide two extra jurors for a complete of 15 – 12 to deliberate and three to function alternates.

Floyd, a Black man, died in police custody on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin, who’s white, pressed his knee in opposition to Floyd’s neck for greater than 9 minutes. As he lay on the bottom below Chauvin, Floyd cried out, “I can’t breathe” greater than 20 instances. The incident sparked protests worldwide.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree homicide, third-degree homicide and second-degree manslaughter.

Latest updates:

• Thirteen jurors — 5 males and eight girls — have been chosen. Seven determine as white, two as multiracial and 4 as Black, based on the court docket. Five of the jurors are of their 20s or 30s, three of their 40s, 4 of their 50s and one of their 60s.
• Attorneys for the protection and prosecution have spent the previous two weeks questioning potential jurors about their views on racism, discrimination, policing of communities of shade and Black Lives Matter. Last week, lead protection lawyer Eric Nelson told a prospective juror that the trial is “not about race.”
• Jurors will be allowed to hear evidence related to George Floyd’s arrest in 2019, Cahill dominated Friday. He additionally denied the protection’s request to maneuver or delay the trial.
• Opening statements are scheduled to begin March 29.

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A have a look at Derek Chauvin’s jury up to now

Thirteen jurors, 5 males and eight girls, have been chosen for Chauvin’s trial. Given the circumstances of Floyd’s loss of life — a Black man dying below the knee of a white police officer — the racial make-up of the jury is a key concern. Seven of the jurors determine as white, two as multiracial and 4 as Black, based on the court docket. As many as 4 individuals could possibly be chosen to function alternates.

The court docket added its thirteenth juror Friday. The white girl in her 50s is a self-described animal lover with a ardour for inexpensive housing. Here’s a fast have a look at who else is on the jury:

• A white girl in her 40s who works in insurance coverage and stated she loves the state of Minnesota
• A Black girl in her 60s who retired from advertising and stated she loves spending time along with her grandkids
• A white nurse in her 50s who works with ventilated COVID-19 sufferers
• A mixed-race girl in her 40s who works in firm reorganization
• A Black man in his 40s who works in administration and has lived in Hennepin County for 20 years
• A white girl in her 50s who works in healthcare and likes to journey her bike
• A Black man in his 30s who works in banking and teaches youth sports activities
• A white girl in her 50s who works at a nonprofit and is the only mom of two teenage sons
• A Black man in his 30s who works in tech and immigrated from Africa to the U.S.
• A white auditor in his 30s
• A mixed-race girl in her 20s who stated she was “super excited” to serve
• A white chemist in his 20s who performs Ultimate Frisbee

As of Friday afternoon, the protection has used 13 of its 18 peremptory challenges, which it may well use to strike potential jurors with out having to elucidate why. The state has used seven of its 10.

Last week, the court cut two jurors as a result of they stated they have been influenced by the city’s historic $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family. 

Judge permits some proof from George Floyd’s 2019 arrest; does not delay or transfer trial

Jurors might be allowed to listen to some proof associated to George Floyd’s arrest in May 2019, Cahill stated Friday. He dominated in January that the jury couldn’t hear the proof however heard contemporary arguments this week after new proof was uncovered associated to Floyd’s 2020 arrest.

In the May 2019 arrest, police responded to information about unlawful narcotics exercise and located substantial quantities of medicine on and close to Floyd, based on court docket filings. As police have been arresting him with weapons drawn, Floyd received upset and known as for his mom. Paramedics advised Floyd he wanted to be hospitalized as a result of he had dangerously hypertension that would trigger a stroke or coronary heart assault, based on courtroom testimony.

Cahill stated the 2 arrests are “remarkably similar,” however jurors can hear proof from the 2019 arrest solely associated to Floyd’s medical state – not his emotional habits – because it pertains to the trigger of loss of life within the 2020 incident.

The decide dominated {that a} portion of an officer’s physique digicam video of the 2019 incident could possibly be admitted. Jurors can even see a photograph from that incident exhibiting tablets on the seat of a automotive and listen to what Floyd’s blood strain was then, in addition to why a paramedic on the scene really useful Floyd go to the hospital.

“The whole point here is we have medical evidence of what happens when Mr. Floyd is faced with virtually the same situation,” Cahill stated. “The May 6th, 2019, incident is relevant only to that extent. Mr. Floyd’s emotional behavior, calling out for his mother – all of that is not admissible.”

Previously, Cahill dominated on motions to incorporate proof about Chauvin’s historical past. Evidence associated to 16 incidents involving Chauvin and the three different former Minneapolis law enforcement officials charged in Floyd’s loss of life can’t be introduced up at trial, Cahill dominated in January.

Also on Friday, the decide denied the protection’s request to maneuver or delay the trial. The protection argued the jury pool had been tainted by pretrial publicity and final week’s extensively reported announcement of a historic $27 million settlement with Floyd’s household.

“Unfortunately, I think the pretrial publicity in this case will continue no matter how long we continue it,” he stated. “And as far as change of venue, I do not think that that would give the defendant any kind of a fair trial beyond what we are doing here today. I don’t think there’s any place in the state of Minnesota that has not been subjected to extreme amounts of publicity in this case.”

Contributing: Grace Hauck, Kevin McCoy, N’dea Yancey-Bragg, Eric Ferkenhoff

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