Chauvin charges upped to murder two

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will increase the charges against Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd to second-degree murder, multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the case revealed. Perhaps the public outrage around the world helped the US justice system to be a little more fair and impartial.
Additionally, the other three officers involved in Floyd’s fatal arrest—Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane—will be charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

Chauvin was arrested last Friday (May 29) and originally faced charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for kneeling on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes, which caused his death.

All four of the men face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, according to the criminal complaints.

The Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the elevated murder charge against Chauvin or the charges filed against the other three officers Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if Lane and Thao had retained lawyers.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison asked the community for continued patience on Wednesday as his team of prosecutors investigate the case, noting that prosecution of police officers for such a charge is a difficult task.

"I feel a tremendous sense of weight, I feel that this is a very serious moment," Ellison said. "I can tell you I feel no joy in this, but I do feel a tremendous sense of duty and responsibility."

 

Ellison explained Wednesday after the charges were announced that first-degree murder would require proving premeditation, which the facts do not support at the moment. Instead, his team will assert that Chauvin committed a felony assault which unintentionally resulted in Floyd's death, which fits the requirements for second-degree murder.

These increased charges may put a bandaid on this situation but it does not solve the root problem of racism in America. And it cannot assuage the grief of George Floyd's family.

* Additional facts:
- Chauvin had a prior 18 complaints against him for foul language and improper conduct.
- The day after Chauvin was arrested, his wife Kellie filed for divorce. Apparently, she was appalled by the murder and so upset she could no longer stay in the relationship.