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| George Floyd: Chauvin trial delayed over possible new charge | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A US judge has delayed jury selection in the case of an ex-Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd, an unarmed black man, last May. | A US judge has delayed jury selection in the case of an ex-Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd, an unarmed black man, last May. |
| Derek Chauvin faces murder charges for kneeling on Mr Floyd's neck for over seven minutes in a widely-viewed video that sparked protests worldwide. | Derek Chauvin faces murder charges for kneeling on Mr Floyd's neck for over seven minutes in a widely-viewed video that sparked protests worldwide. |
| The delay came as the judge awaits an appeals court decision on whether a new murder charge can be added. | The delay came as the judge awaits an appeals court decision on whether a new murder charge can be added. |
| Jury selection is expected to resume on Tuesday morning. | Jury selection is expected to resume on Tuesday morning. |
| Mr Chauvin is accused of second-degree unintentional murder and manslaughter in the 25 May death of Mr Floyd. The maximum sentence he faces on that count is 40 years. | |
| The less severe charge of third-degree murder was initially dismissed last year, but prosecutors have requested to reinstate it. | The less severe charge of third-degree murder was initially dismissed last year, but prosecutors have requested to reinstate it. |
| What happened to George Floyd? | What happened to George Floyd? |
| Legal experts say that adding a third-degree charge could make it easier for prosecutors to get a conviction. | Legal experts say that adding a third-degree charge could make it easier for prosecutors to get a conviction. |
| Jury selection is expected to take about three weeks, with trial arguments due to begin on 29 March. | |
| What happened in court? | |
| The judge's decision followed prosecutors saying they would ask the appeals court to delay proceedings as the panel weighs whether the third-degree murder charge can be brought against Mr Chauvin. | |
| Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill said it was unlikely the appeals panel would respond before Tuesday. | |
| "So unless any of the parties object I'm going to kick our jurors loose and start everything tomorrow with jury selection," the judge said. | |
| Mr Chauvin, who was fired from the Minneapolis police force and is currently free on a $1m (£725,000) bail, wore a blue suit and tie to court, as well as a black face mask. He took notes on a yellow legal pad during the hearing. |