Minneapolis, MN
2 former officers charged in George Floyd’s murder want trial moved out of Minneapolis
Former Minneapolis PD officers Tou Thao (left) and J. Alexander Keung (proper) face expenses of aiding and abetting homicide for George Floyd’s homicide. (Equipped)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Attorneys for the 2 remaining former Minneapolis law enforcement officials going through aiding and abetting homicide expenses within the demise of George Floyd are once more asking for the trial to be moved out of Minneapolis.
As a result of widespread consideration the case has drawn, the attorneys for J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao say their purchasers cannot get a good trial in Hennepin County. They’re asking the case be moved to a different county. In his request, Keung’s lawyer writes: “Mr. Floyd’s demise, the felony charging of Mr. Kueng et al and the riots had extra media protection within the Minneapolis/St. Paul space than any occasion in its historical past. There was saturation information protection within the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press and the three TV networks. Nationwide, information protection was extra intensive than any story in fifty years. Extra importantly, with respect to the riots, the information protection was oddly favorable to the rioters. Id. The amount and prejudicial nature of previous protection of those occasions has been substantial.”
In its response, the state factors out that is Kueng’s fourth request to get a venue change, calling it “a last-ditch try [by Kueng] to evade judgment”
The state says the brand new request affords little new proof from earlier makes an attempt which have been denied by Choose Peter Cahill. Final 12 months, Cahill denied a movement for a venue change for Chauvin’s trial. Chauvin’s lawyer has cited that call in Chauvin’s attraction for a brand new trial, amongst an inventory of different claims.
Derek Chauvin was discovered responsible of homicide in Floyd’s demise final 12 months whereas co-defendant Thomas Lane pleaded responsible to aiding and abetting manslaughter expenses this month. Chauvin additionally pleaded responsible to federal expenses of violating George Floyd’s civil rights whereas Lane, Keung, and Thao had been discovered responsible in federal courtroom.
The trial for Thao and Keung is ready to begin subsequent month.