Chauvin is one of four officers facing charges following the death of Floyd, which gained national attention last spring when cellphone footage showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for just shy of 9 minutes.
An appeals court has ordered a Minnesota judge to consider charging former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin with third-degree murder in the death of George Floyd last May.
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill had dismissed that charge in October, siding with Chauvin’s defense team who argued the officer didn’t put anyone other than the victim at risk. But a three-judge panel of the Minnesota Court of Appeals said Cahill failed to follow precedent.
Chauvin currently faces second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges, but Cahill will have to consider reinstating the additional murder charge.
Chauvin ‘s trial is scheduled to start next week and it is unclear whether this could delay it.
Derek Chauvin, Charged With George Floyd’s Death, May Face Additional Murder Charge : NPR