4 ex-cops charged in George Floyd’s death appear in court
Protests are underway outside the Minneapolis courthouse, where the four former police officers charged in the death of George Floyd make an appearance; Mike Tobin reports.
The former Minneapolis police officer seen in the viral video kneeling on the neck of George Floyd before his death in police custody posted a $1 million bond and was released Wednesday, a move lawyers for Floyd's family called a "painful reminder" that justice is still far from being achieved.
Derek Chauvin, who is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter, was released from Oak Park Heights prison, where he had been held since May 31, a Minnesota Department of Corrections spokesperson confirmed to Fox News.
Derek Chauvin was seen pressing his knee against Georgia Floyd's neck while Floyd was handcuffed and pleaded for his life.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office posted a notice of release indicating Chauvin paid a $1 million bond and was required by law to show in court on March 8, 2021, at 9 a.m. A court document signed by A-Affordable Bail Bonds of Brainerd, Minn., also showed Chauvin paid the non-cash bond on Wednesday.
Attorneys for Floyd's family blasted Chauvin's release as "a painful reminder to George Floyd's family that we are still far from achieving justice for George."
"The system of due process worked for Chauvin and afforded him his freedom while he awaits trial," said a joint statement from attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci. "In contrast, George Floyd was denied due process, when his life was ended over a $20 bill. There was no charge, no arrest, no hearing, no bail. Just execution.
"Although George Floyd was denied justice in life, we will not rest until he is afforded full justice in death," the statement continued. "The civil litigation team looks forward to our day in court.”
Chauvin's bail is subject to several conditions, which include not leaving the state without written court permission, no contact with the Floyd family and the prohibition of possessing or receiving firearms and ammunition.
The other three officers at the scene, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao, are charged with aiding and abetting. They previously posted bail amounts of $750,000 and have been freed pending trial. Currently, all four men are scheduled to face trial together in March, but the judge is weighing a request to have them tried separately.
Meanwhile, a large mural dedicated to George Floyd in Minneapolis was defaced again Wednesday.
Surveillance video from Cup Foods shows a man wearing a face mask over a ski mask walk up to the mural and spray red paint on it about 4 a.m. Sunday, a store employee, T.J. Abumayyaleh, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. It was defaced once before in August.
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Floyd, a Black man in handcuffs, died May 25 after Chauvin, who is White, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. The mural is located near the site where Floyd was restrained. A widely seen bystander video set off protests, sometimes violent, around the world.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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