Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin has taken his case to the Minneapolis Supreme Court, filing a petition to review the conviction related to the murder of George Floyd.
Previous Conviction Upheld
The filing comes a month after the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld Chauvin’s conviction for unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The conviction had led to a sentencing of more than 22 years in prison in April 2021.
New Evidence Emerges
Chauvin is now arguing that new evidence has surfaced, challenging the assertions that he was responsible for the death of George Floyd in 2020.
Allegations of Unawareness
Chauvin claimed that he would not have pleaded guilty to the 2021 charge if he had been aware of theories presented by a Kansas pathologist, Dr. William Schaetzel, earlier this year.
Request for Conviction Toss
In the motion filed this week, Chauvin requested the judge overseeing his trial to toss his conviction, order a new trial, or, at the very least, conduct an evidentiary hearing.
Pathologist’s Theory
Dr. Schaetzel, after reviewing autopsy reports, believed Floyd died from complications of a rare tumor that could induce a fatal adrenaline surge.
Prosecution’s Stand
Prosecutors during the 2021 state trial argued that Floyd’s death was a result of Chauvin’s actions, not due to an underlying health condition or drug use.
Waiver of Appeal Rights
Chauvin had waived his appeal rights when he pleaded guilty in December 2021 to the federal charge, except based on ineffective counsel.
Allegations Against Trial Attorney
Chauvin alleged that Dr. Schaetzel had contacted his trial attorney, Eric Nelson, in 2021, but Nelson failed to inform him about the pathologist or challenge the federal charge’s constitutionality.
Supreme Court’s Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet decided whether it will hear Chauvin’s appeal of his state convictions on second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Bid Rejected
The Supreme Court recently rejected Chauvin’s bid to review his conviction, maintaining his second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter charges.
Nationwide Outcry
George Floyd’s 2020 death sparked a nationwide outcry and renewed discussions about police use of force, particularly after the viral video showing Chauvin’s restraint.
Chauvin’s Plea
Apart from murder and manslaughter convictions, Chauvin had pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges, claiming he wouldn’t have done so if aware of Dr. Schaetzel’s theory.
Dual Sentences
Chauvin is currently serving concurrent sentences – more than 22 years for murder convictions and 21 years for federal civil rights violations.
Continuing Legal Battles
The legal battles surrounding Chauvin’s case continue, with the former officer persistently challenging his convictions based on new evidence.
Impact on National Discourse
As the case unfolds, it continues to shape discussions on justice, police conduct, and the complexities of high-profile trials in the United States.
The post New Twist in Floyd Case as Chauvin Appeals to Supreme Court first appeared on Wealthy Living.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
