Judge Peter Cahill presiding over the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Judge Peter Cahill said he was "not convinced" by a motion filed by Derek Chauvin’s defense attorney to potentially reverse his prior decision to use evidence from George Floyd’s 2019 arrest.
Monday marked the first day of jury selection in the murder trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin. In the afternoon session, Chauvin’s defense attorney Eric Nelson asked the judge to reconsider allowing evidence from Floyd’s prior arrest.
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Defense asks judge to reconsider admitting 2019 George Floyd arrest as evidence
Citing new evidence discovered after George Floyd's deadly arrest last year, the defense team for former officer Derek Chauvin argued Floyd's 2019 arrest be admitted as evidence, despite the judge previously ruling it would be inadmissible.
Nelson said the defense found meth and fentanyl pills in the back of the police car Floyd’s deadly arrest took place in and around. The defense brought up the 2019 arrest and argued that the pills suggest a "modus operandi" for Floyd ingesting narcotics during an arrest.
In response, Cahill said he didn’t see how it fit as Chauvin was not part of the 2019 arrest.
"I’ll be honest, I’m not convinced," Cahill told the defense.
As Nelson outlined his argument, Floyd's sister left the courtroom for about two minutes, although it is unclear whether it was done in defiance or just to take a break.
The judge adjourned court for the day just before 3 p.m. Court will resume Tuesday morning at 8 a.m., with jury selection beginning at 9 a.m.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter for his role in George Floyd’s death last May. He was initially charged with third-degree murder as well, but Cahill dismissed the charge last October, saying it did not apply to this case.
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George Floyd’s sister reacts to Day 1 of Chauvin trial
George Floyd's sister, Bridgett Floyd, shared her thoughts and emotions following the first day of the Derek Chauvin trial, the former Minneapolis police officer charged in her brother's death.
Chauvin trial streaming and TV information
The Chauvin trial will be live streamed, gavel to gavel, at fox9.com/live and the FOX 9 News App. You can also find the FOX 9 stream on Tubi through connected TVs. Portions of the trial are likely to be carried live by several broadcast networks as well as Court TV.