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| George Floyd: Chauvin trial delayed over possible new charge | George Floyd: Chauvin trial delayed over possible new charge |
| (about 1 hour 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 could resume on Tuesday morning at the earliest. | Jury selection could resume on Tuesday morning at the earliest. |
| 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. | 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. | Jury selection is expected to take about three weeks, with trial arguments due to begin on 29 March. |
| More than 370 potential witnesses could be called to testify. | More than 370 potential witnesses could be called to testify. |
| What happened in court? | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. |
| To prove second-degree murder, prosecutors must convince jurors that a serious assault had been committed by Mr Chauvin, and that it was a "substantial causal factor" in Mr Floyd's death. | |
| Third-degree murder requires prosecutors to prove that Mr Chauvin showed a reckless disregard for human life. | |
| Lawyers for Mr Chauvin said they would ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to review the court of appeals decision, which could lead to further delays. | Lawyers for Mr Chauvin said they would ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to review the court of appeals decision, which could lead to further delays. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Derek Chauvin faces a long trial - it could take weeks just to select jurors | Derek Chauvin faces a long trial - it could take weeks just to select jurors |
| How has the city been preparing? | How has the city been preparing? |
| The death of Mr Floyd sparked racial justice protests around the world. Most demonstrations were peaceful, though some turned violent. | The death of Mr Floyd sparked racial justice protests around the world. Most demonstrations were peaceful, though some turned violent. |
| The trial, which is the fourth involving the killing of a civilian by a police officer in modern Minnesota history, has been highly anticipated. | The trial, which is the fourth involving the killing of a civilian by a police officer in modern Minnesota history, has been highly anticipated. |
| Barricades, fencing and barbed wire surround the courthouse in downtown Minneapolis as police brace for protests. | Barricades, fencing and barbed wire surround the courthouse in downtown Minneapolis as police brace for protests. |
| On Monday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the city. Marches also occurred over the weekend. | On Monday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the city. Marches also occurred over the weekend. |
| Three other ex-officers who were involved in Mr Floyd's arrest are due to stand trial together later this year. | Three other ex-officers who were involved in Mr Floyd's arrest are due to stand trial together later this year. |
| George Floyd death: What’s changed, 100 days later? | George Floyd death: What’s changed, 100 days later? |
| 'I hope they find unbiased people' | 'I hope they find unbiased people' |
| Analysis by Tara McKelvey, BBC News, Minneapolis | Analysis by Tara McKelvey, BBC News, Minneapolis |
| Barbed wire surrounds the courthouse, and Forest McClarron, 34, an army veteran, walks past, looking up at the building. | Barbed wire surrounds the courthouse, and Forest McClarron, 34, an army veteran, walks past, looking up at the building. |
| He lives on Chicago Avenue, where George Floyd was pinned to the ground. | He lives on Chicago Avenue, where George Floyd was pinned to the ground. |
| "I hope they find unbiased people," McClarron says, referring to the jury selection process. "Just honest, unbiased people." | "I hope they find unbiased people," McClarron says, referring to the jury selection process. "Just honest, unbiased people." |
| Near him a woman walks with her husband to a vehicle parked on South Third Avenue. He has an assault rifle, and a paper cup sits on the bonnet of the vehicle. | Near him a woman walks with her husband to a vehicle parked on South Third Avenue. He has an assault rifle, and a paper cup sits on the bonnet of the vehicle. |
| He works in private security, and they are here to keep activists safe "from white supremacists," they say. | He works in private security, and they are here to keep activists safe "from white supremacists," they say. |
| The mood is calm and the street smells like cannabis while people wait to see what happens with the jury, and with those who have gathered outside the courthouse. | The mood is calm and the street smells like cannabis while people wait to see what happens with the jury, and with those who have gathered outside the courthouse. |
| How is the jury being selected? | How is the jury being selected? |
| A jury of 12 and four alternates will be selected by lawyers for each side from a pool of eligible local citizens. | A jury of 12 and four alternates will be selected by lawyers for each side from a pool of eligible local citizens. |
| Each potential juror has filled in a 16-page questionnaire, which asks about news viewing habits, how many times they watched the video of Mr Floyd's arrest, belief in the US criminal justice system, and other questions related to the case. | Each potential juror has filled in a 16-page questionnaire, which asks about news viewing habits, how many times they watched the video of Mr Floyd's arrest, belief in the US criminal justice system, and other questions related to the case. |
| In cases involving issues such as racism, the selection process can be seen as hugely important to the outcome of the trial and how fair it is perceived. | In cases involving issues such as racism, the selection process can be seen as hugely important to the outcome of the trial and how fair it is perceived. |
| George Floyd death: How will jurors be selected? | George Floyd death: How will jurors be selected? |
| What happened to George Floyd? | What happened to George Floyd? |
| The 46-year-old was arrested outside a convenience store on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill. | The 46-year-old was arrested outside a convenience store on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill. |
| Officers arrived and handcuffed him, but when they tried to put him into the squad car he resisted and a struggle ended with Mr Floyd face down on the street. | Officers arrived and handcuffed him, but when they tried to put him into the squad car he resisted and a struggle ended with Mr Floyd face down on the street. |
| Mr Chauvin, 44, placed his left knee between Mr Floyd's head and neck, and kept it there for seven minutes and 46 seconds, according to prosecutors. Two other officers helped pin him down, while another prevented witnesses from intervening. | Mr Chauvin, 44, placed his left knee between Mr Floyd's head and neck, and kept it there for seven minutes and 46 seconds, according to prosecutors. Two other officers helped pin him down, while another prevented witnesses from intervening. |
| Mr Floyd said he could not breathe more than 20 times. The video shows him go limp and get carried away by police. | Mr Floyd said he could not breathe more than 20 times. The video shows him go limp and get carried away by police. |
| He was pronounced dead in hospital an hour later. | He was pronounced dead in hospital an hour later. |