A Minneapolis judge has ruled that George Floyd’s prior arrests cannot be used as evidence during the trials of the four officers involved in his death.
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Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill made the decision on Monday and said he will further explain his decision at a later date. However, the jury will be permitted to hear details about Derek Chauvin’s two prior incidents before George Floyd’s death. Prosecutors asked Cahill if they could include evidence that showed Chauvin used neck or head and upper body restraints several times during multiple arrests.
Cahill ruled they can inform the jury of a 2017 incident where Chauvin restrained a woman by place his knee on her neck while she was laying on the ground and a 2015 incident where he witnessed his fellow officers place a suicidal man in a side recovery position after using a stun gun on him. This evidence will be presented during Chauvin’s trial on March 8.
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Defense attorneys attempted to bring up Floyd’s arrest record as evidence but his family’s attorney said it was an assassination of character and a common tactic that can convince public opinion outside of the courtroom. Cahill’s decision will also deny the state’s request to bring up on-duty incidents involving former officers Thao and Keung. Their trials are scheduled for August.
SOURCE: ABC 7 Chicago