Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill
MINNEAPOLIS – The judge overseeing the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer accused in the death of George Floyd says he’ll allow the jury to hear some evidence about a prior arrest in which Floyd was found with drugs. He has also denied a defense request to delay Chauvin’s trial after a $27 million settlement for Floyd’s family raised concern about a tainted jury.
Judge Peter Cahill partially granted a defense motion Friday to allow evidence of Floyd’s arrest in May 2019. The lawyer for Derek Chauvin argued that he should be allowed to bring up the arrest because new evidence from police searches makes it relevant to the current case.
Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, called the timing of the $27 million settlement deeply disturbing and unfair and said it jeopardized Chauvin’s chance for a fair trial.
Judge Cahill called the timing “unfortunate” but declined to delay the trial.
Jury selection resumes at 9 a.m. Friday.
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