Former police officer Derek Chauvin, convicted last month of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd last May, filed a motion for a new trial on Tuesday.

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Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, argued that the court should have granted the defense’s motion to move the trial out of Hennepin County, given the strong local sentiments about the case.

Nelson also argued that Judge Peter A. Cahill erred when he denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial after public officials, including Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), made statements suggesting that there would be unrest unless the jury delivered a guilty verdict. The jury was not sequestered yet, Nelson pointed out. . . .

He added that the judge erred by not sequestering the jury throughout the trial, or telling them avoid “all media.”

In addition, Nelson accused the State of Minnesota of prosecutorial misconduct “including but not limited to: disparaging the Defense; improper vouching; and failing to adequately prepare its witnesses.”

He alsosaid that the court should have compelled Morries Hall, the man suspected of selling drugs to Floyd, to testify.

Finally, Nelson said that the court made several other errors, including giving the jury faulty instructions, among others.

The motion did not mention recent revelations that juror Brandon Mitchell had participated in Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC, last summer.  . . .

Mitchell had reportedly claimed during jury selection that he had not attended Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the AP noted:

Mitchell said he answered “no” to two questions about demonstrations on the questionnaire sent out before jury selection.

The first question asked: “Did you, or someone close to you, participate in any of the demonstrations or marches against police brutality that took place in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s death?” The second asked: “Other than what you have already described above, have you, or anyone close to you, participated in protests about police use of force or police brutality?”

…

He said he could be neutral at trial. . . .

Chauvin is still awaiting sentencing in the case on June 25. His bail was revoked and he is currently being held in prison.

What do you think about this filing to receive a new trial? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

(Excerpt from Breitbart. Article by Joel B. Pollak. Photo by Minnesota Department of Corrections via Getty Images)