❓WHAT HAPPENED: Derek Chauvin’s defense attorneys filed a petition alleging prosecutorial misconduct and questioning testimony regarding police restraint methods during his trial in a renewed effort to overturn the former Minneapolis police officer’s conviction for the May 2020 death of George Floyd.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Derek Chauvin, over 50 current and former police officers, Minnesota Police Department Inspector Katie Blackwell, prosecution witness Dr. Martin Tobin, and Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The petition was filed in federal court late last week, with the prosecution given 45 days to respond.
🎯IMPACT: The case has gained a new interest among the public, with over 50,000 people signing a petition in March urging President Donald J. Trump to pardon Chauvin.
A new court petition filed by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s defense team accuses Minnesota state prosecutors of misconduct during his trial for the death of George Floyd. The filing has gained significant attention, with many questioning the evidence presented and the testimony of key witnesses.
The filing argues that Minnesota Police Department Inspector Katie Blackwell’s testimony, which stated that Chauvin’s restraint technique was not standard practice, has been contradicted by over 50 current and former police officers. According to sworn declarations provided by the officers, Blackwell’s statements do not align with Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) procedures.
Additionally, Chauvin’s attorneys contend that statements made by Dr. Martin Tobin, a pulmonologist who testified on behalf of the prosecution, should not have been admissible, as Tobin never performed an autopsy on nor examined Floyd’s body. The filing argues that the prosecution engaged in misconduct by repeatedly citing a statement by Dr. Tobin describing the pressure on Floyd as being akin to “the left side is in a vice.” In contrast, Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker, who performed Floyd’s autopsy without viewing the video footage, concluded that Floyd’s death was due to cardiac arrest, not asphyxiation. This discrepancy has further fueled calls for a new trial. Prosecutors have 45 days to file a response.
The National Pulse reported in March that a public petition advocating for Chauvin to receive a pardon from President Donald J. Trump had gained an estimated 50,000 signatures. Public interest in Chauvin’s legal efforts began to rise after his attorneys won a significant victory last December when a federal judge cleared the way for the reexamination of heart and fluid samples from George Floyd’s autopsy. The ruling also appeared to confirm claims that blood was taken from Floyd before he died, suggesting he was still alive when he arrived at the hospital.
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