Derek Chauvin trial live: 7 jurors now seated as Minneapolis announces $27M settlement with George Floyd's family
MINNEAPOLIS – Another juror found a seat Friday in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin as the city agreed to pay $27 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit with George Floyd's family.
Given the circumstances of Floyd’s death – a Black man dying under the knee of a white police officer – the racial makeup of the jury is a key concern. Court wrapped up Friday with seven jurors seated thus far. Four of the jurors identify as white, one as multiracial, one as Hispanic and one as Black, according Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill, who is presiding over the case. Six of the jurors are in their 20s or 30s, and one is in her 50s.
Chauvin's attorneys have struck at least three jurors who are Hispanic throughout the week, something that spurred prosecutors to twice use Batson challenges. Such challenges claim that a potential juror was eliminated on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or religion. The judge denied both challenges and rebuffed the notion that jurors were being excluded on the basis of race.
Meanwhile, Cahill allowed prosecutors to reinstate a third-degree murder charge against Chauvin — something legal observers say will give the jury more options as it considers the former officer's culpability in Floyd's death.
The charge accompanies the second-degree murder and manslaughter charges Chauvin already faced in Floyd's death last May, when Chauvin was seen on video kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd cried out that he couldn't breathe. Floyd, who was accused of using a a counterfeit $20 bill, was handcuffed and pinned to the pavement.
Latest updates:
- Court was expected to resume at 8 a.m CT Monday.
- Minneapolis on Friday reached a $27 million agreement with George Floyd's family. The city council unanimously voted to approve the settlement, and Mayor Jacob Frey was expected to sign it, according to city officials.
- The court seated its seventh juror Friday afternoon: The woman, a single mother of two in her 5, said she works in the nonprofit world and has previously interacted with Minnesota's attorney general.
- Angela Harrelson, George Floyd’s aunt, was the Floyd family representative in the courtroom Friday.
- Cahill and lawyers over the week have asked potential jurors about their previous knowledge of the case, whether they've seen it on the news and how they responded to a 13-page questionnaire.
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Minneapolis reaches $27M settlement with George Floyd’s family in wrongful death lawsuit
The family of George Floyd has reached a $27 million settlement with the city of Minneapolis in a civil lawsuit over his death in police custody last May. The Minneapolis City Council unanimously voted to approve the settlement Friday, and Mayor Jacob Frey was expected to sign it, according to city officials.
The settlement includes $500,000 to be directed to enhance the 38th Street and Chicago Avenue business district where Floyd died, according to the city and a statement from Ben Crump, lead attorney for the family.
"George Floyd’s horrific death, witnessed by millions of people around the world, unleashed a deep longing and undeniable demand for justice and change," Crump said in a statement Friday. He called it the largest pre-trial settlement in a wrongful death case ever.
Speaking at a press conference on the settlement Friday afternoon, Crump said he was following jury selection in Chauvin's trial and hoped to see jurors seated "that will respect George Floyd and not devalue him because he was a Black man."
Here's who has been seated on the jury for Chauvin's trial
Seven jurors – five men and two women – have been chosen thus far to serve during Derek Chauvin's trial. Four of the jurors self-identify as white, one as multiracial, one as Hispanic and one as Black, according to the judge.
Among the jurors selected: a man who immigrated from Africa to the U.S., a chemist, a man who said he somewhat disagreed the criminal justice system is biased against minorities, a woman who said she was "super excited" to serve, a man who said he had a fairly negative view of Blue Lives Matter, and a groom who is likely being forced to cancel his wedding to serve on the jury.
The seventh juror, a single mother of two teenage boys in her 50s, was seated Friday afternoon. She said she has had contact with the Minnesota attorney general in the past because of her advocacy work but that this would have no impact on her decision-making in the trial.
The court will need to seat a total of 12 jurors and two alternates.
Thursday afternoon, when the defense struck another Hispanic prospective juror – at least the third Hispanic juror struck by the defense – prosecutors issued their second Batson challenge, which claims that a potential juror has been eliminated on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or religion. The judge denied the challenge.
"I see no pattern whatsoever from the defense of striking racial minorities," Cahill said.
The state issued their first Batson challenge Tuesday, when the defense struck a second Hispanic prospective juror.
Judge reinstates 3rd-degree murder charge, giving jury more options in case
Judge Peter Cahill reinstated a third-degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin, something legal observers say will gives the jury more options as it considers his culpability in Floyd's death.
Cahill had earlier rejected the charge as not warranted by the circumstances of Floyd’s death, but an appellate court ruling in an unrelated case established new grounds for it. it. The Minnesota Supreme Court rejected an appeal on Wednesday by Chauvin that aimed to prevent the additional charge, opening the door for it to be reinstated.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who is leading the prosecution, said in a statement the addition of the charge "reflects the gravity of the allegations" against Chauvin. "We look forward to presenting all three charges to the jury," he said.
Ben Crump, lead attorney for the Floyd family, said he was "pleased that all judicial avenues are being explored and that the trial will move forward."
"We're gratified that the judge cleared the way for the trial to proceed and for Chauvin to face this additional charge. The trial is very painful and the family needs closure," Crump said in a statement.
Cahill also noted that the reinstatement of the third-degree murder charge does not apply to three other officers who have been charged in Floyd's death. They are scheduled for trial this summer, and possible third degree charges in that case would be addressed at a later time, the judge said.
Contributing: Kevin McCoy; The Associated Press
