State vs. Chauvin trial Day Five: Jury selection resumes after 6 chosen so far
Judge Peter Cahill, who is presiding, has estimated jury selection will take three weeks, with opening statements to follow.[KSTP-TV]
When jury selection in a former Minneapolis police officer’s trial resumes Friday, the panel seated so far will include five men and one woman.
Three of those seated are white, one is multiracial, one is Hispanic, and one is Black, according to Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill.
At least three weeks have been set aside to complete a jury of 12 plus two alternates. Potential jurors’ identities are being protected and they are not shown on livestreamed video of the proceedings.
Derek Chauvin trial: Meet the jurors
Meanwhile, Cahill’s restoration of the third-degree murder charge came at the start of Thursday’s proceedings, handing prosecutors one more option for a conviction if they choose. Former officer Derek Chauvin failed to get appellate courts to block the charge. Cahill had earlier rejected it as not warranted by the circumstances of George Floyd’s death, but an appellate court ruling in an unrelated case established new grounds.
Explanation of the charges in the State vs. Chauvin trial
Cahill told potential jurors after the ruling that he still expects opening statements on March 29.
Chauvin and three other officers were fired. The others face an August trial on aiding and abetting charges. The defense hasn’t said whether Chauvin will testify in his own defense.