MINNEAPOLIS (AP/WCCO) — At a pretrial hearing in the death of George Floyd, a Hennepin County judge disqualified members of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office — including attorney Mike Freeman — from the case. The judge called their actions “sloppy” after defense attorneys argued Freeman could potentially be a witness as he met with the doctor who performed the autopsy on Floyd.
Hennepin Copunty Attorney Mike Freeman has been disqualified from participating in #GeorgeFloyd case and so are 3 of his attorneys – at issue is their meeting 2 days after #GeorgeFloyd death with Dr. Baker who performed autopsy
— esme murphy (@esmemurphy) September 11, 2020
The judged opened the hearing by saying he would not be considering dismissal motions on Friday, but cautioned “don’t read anything into that.”
The judge wants to try and form a jury pool months before the trial of the four ex-Minneapolis Police officers. None of them want to be tried in Minneapolis because of the publicity surrounding the case, but the judge says he wants to try to find a jury in Hennepin County before even considering a change of venue.
Also on Friday, the judge said he would not admit into evidence any criminal records involving Floyd from when he lived in Texas.
Defense Attorney Plunkett also wants records of a May 2019 incident in which Plunkett alleges #GeorgeFloyd took drugs during an encounter with police, Defense of all 4 former officers claims Floyd swallowed fentanyl during the fatal encounter
— esme murphy (@esmemurphy) September 11, 2020
Attorneys for four former Minneapolis officers charged in the death of Floyd say each client should get his own trial, as the officers try to diminish their roles in the Black man’s death by pointing fingers at one another. The former officers are in court Friday for a hearing on several issues, including the prosecution’s request to hold a joint trial. Other issues being argued include defense requests to move the trial out of Minneapolis and to sequester the jury and keep jurors anonymous.
Floyd, who was in handcuffs, died May 25 after Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against his neck as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe and became motionless. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
A trial is scheduled for March.
Friday’s hearing also marks the first time Chauvin has appeared in a courtroom. He is in state custody and has attended previous hearings via videoconference.
RELATED: All 4 Ex-Minneapolis Officers To Appear Together In Court For 1st Time
A few dozen protesters gathered in a street in front of the courthouse that had been blocked off, chanting “No justice, no peace.” One carried a Black Lives Matter flag and wore a black helmet with swim goggles around the back of his head. The windows on most nearby buildings were boarded up.
Prosecutors say the case should proceed with one trial because the evidence – including witness statements, body-camera video and police department policy on use of force – is similar for each officer. Prosecutors say the officers also acted in close concert.
Defense attorney Paule says “I have never had a case were the prosecution announces on TV my client is guilty” – we have a jury that has been told “my client is guilty” as he argues for change of venue #GeorgeFloyd
— esme murphy (@esmemurphy) September 11, 2020
“Here, all four Defendants worked together to murder Floyd: Chauvin, Kueng, and Lane pinned Floyd face-down, while Thao stopped the crowd from intervening, enabling the other Defendants to maintain their positions. Defendants also discussed and coordinated their actions throughout the incident,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
Prosecutors also say witnesses and Floyd’s family members would likely be traumatized by multiple trials, and it would be more efficient and in the interest of justice to hold one proceeding.
But defense attorneys are pushing for separate trials, saying they are likely to offer “antagonistic” defenses, and evidence against one officer could negatively impact another’s right to a fair trial.
Judge: “there is not a county or state in this country that has not had publicity in the George Floyd case “ Defense Attorney Paule fires back “we have had cities ablaze because of these cases” saying jurors in Mpls will feel pressure to find former officers guilty #GeorgeFloyd
— esme murphy (@esmemurphy) September 11, 2020
Attempts at finger-pointing are already prevalent throughout court filings in the case. Attorneys for Lane and Kueng have argued that their clients were rookies who were following Chauvin’s lead. Thao’s attorney, Bob Paule, has said his client’s role was “absolutely distinct” from the others, because he was on crowd control and was securing the scene, while the other three restrained Floyd.
Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, wrote that his client’s case is different. Nelson said prosecutors must prove Chauvin intended to assault Floyd, but they must also show that the other officers knew of Chauvin’s intent before it happened. As a result, he said, Chauvin will have to defend himself differently.
“The other defendants are clearly saying that, if a crime was committed, they neither knew about it nor assisted in it,” Nelson wrote. “They blame Chauvin.”
But Chauvin also points fingers at the others. Nelson wrote that Lane and Kueng — the officers who responded to a forgery call — initiated contact with Floyd before Chauvin and Thao arrived, and that Chauvin believes Floyd was overdosing on fentanyl. Nelson wrote that while Lane and Kueng called for a paramedic and believed Floyd was “on something,” they didn’t elevate the call to one of more urgency or give medical assistance.
“Instead, they struggled to subdue Mr. Floyd and force him into their squad car, likely exacerbating his condition considerably,” Nelson wrote, adding that Chauvin could reasonably argue that their inaction led to Floyd’s death.
“If EMS had arrived just three minutes sooner, Mr. Floyd may have survived. If Kueng and Lane had chosen to de-escalate instead of struggle, Mr. Floyd may have survived. If Kueng and Lane had recognized the apparent signs of an opioid overdose and rendered aid, such as administering naloxone, Mr. Floyd may have survived,” Nelson wrote.
Attorneys for all four men have also asked that the trial be moved from Minneapolis, saying pretrial publicity has made it impossible for them to receive a fair trial.
Paule, Thao’s attorney, said in a court filing that the state has tainted the jury pool by calling Floyd’s death a “murder.” Paule also cites protests that caused millions of dollars of damage in Minneapolis, saying an impartial jury can’t be found in Hennepin County because jurors would “shoulder the weight of their decision creating further rioting and destruction.”
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