The defense attorney for Derek Chauvin has filed a motion asking for a new trial for the former police officer who was found guilty in the murder of George Floyd.
Tiffany Hudson at NewsNation Now:
MINNEAPOLIS (NewsNation Now) — The defense attorney for Derek Chauvin has filed a motion asking for a new trial for the former police officer who was found guilty in the murder of George Floyd.
Eric Nelson’s motion argues a new trial is valid for 10 different reasons, including prosecutorial and jury misconduct and denying a change of venue.
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Chauvin’s legal team argues in the court documents filed Tuesday that the jury should have been sequestered for the duration of the trial and told to “avoid all media which resulted in jury exposure to prejudicial publicity regarding the trial during the proceedings.”
They also argue that the court failing to order Morries Hall, a friend of George Floyd, to testify violated Chauvin’s rights under the Confrontation Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Hall used his Fifth Amendment rights to refuse self-incrimination from his testimony. Chauvin’s defense team had subpoenaed him to testify that Floyd took opioid pills before the arrest and appeared to fall into a deep sleep at some point.
There was speculation that the comments from California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters and the interview given by a juror on ABC’s Good Morning America could give the defense stronger grounds in an appeal or request a new trial.
The Derek Chauvin defense team is seeking a retrial of Chauvin, due to 10 different reasons, including the following: denial of a venue change, prosecutorial misconduct, and failure to order Morries Hall to testify.