Four former Minneapolis police officers charged in connection with the death of George Floyd are asking a judge to move their trial out of Hennepin County, saying they fear for their safety.
Floyd, a Black man, died in May after a Minneapolis officer kneeled on his neck during an arrest. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, a filing tied to defendant Alexander Kueng’s case says he and his co-defendants, Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane, were put in a dangerous situation outside the courthouse following a hearing last month. The filing alleges that Thao was followed for several blocks by protesters when he left court, and that Lane was physically assaulted.
TMZ also reported that the filing seeks protection for Chauvin, claiming he was subjected to “humiliation by being paraded in public dressed in jail clothes and body armor.”
The other former officers have reportedly made similar requests, arguing that a fair trial may not be possible if a jury is influenced by crowds gathered outside the courthouse. We did not see a response from prosecutors at the time of this post.
As of this report, Chauvin is charged with second degree murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter. Kueng, Thao and Lane are each charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder and aiding and abetting second degree manslaughter. The charges are allegations, and none of the four had been convicted.
A judge has not yet ruled on the request to change the venue.
Made to order and shipped to your door.
