AG Bill Barr Reportedly Nixed Third-Degree Murder Guilty Plea by Police Officer Who Knelt on...
Source: Mediaite
AG Bill Barr Reportedly Nixed Third-Degree Murder Guilty Plea by Police Officer Who Knelt on George Floyds Neck
By Reed Richardson Feb 10th, 2021, 11:30 pm
Attorney General Bill Barr rejected at the last minute a guilty plea deal from Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, citing fears that it would spread further unrest if deemed too lenient
According to a new report from the New York Times, Chauvin had agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder with a likely sentence of more than 10 years just three days after Floyds death. Chauvin, who is white, was captured on video kneeling on Floyds neck during an arrest for nearly nine minutes, a bombshell moment that sparked worldwide Black Lives Matter protests of police violence and racial inequality.
In exchange for the swift resolution of the case, he wanted a guarantee that he would not face federal charges of civil rights violations. The plea was all but a done deal, and local officials had even scheduled a press conference to announce it, when Barr refused to comply with Chauvins request.
Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/crime/ag-bill-barr-reportedly-nixed-third-degree-murder-guilty-plea-by-police-officer-who-knelt-on-george-floyds-neck/
ShepKat
(383 posts)is a walking dripping putrid full septic tank. They give humans a bad name
Miigwech
(3,741 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Obviously, Barr's trying to salvage some scraps of his reputation.
progree
(10,918 posts)Last edited Thu Feb 11, 2021, 04:29 PM - Edit history (4)
8 minute cold-blooded murder we all saw on video with the last 2 minutes motionless and no pulse.. I live 2 miles from Minneapolis. A quick 3rd degree plea deal? No way that would have gone down well with anyone except a vicious white racist. What would DUers be saying if Barr had agreed to that?
He is now being charged with 2nd degree murder, which is more serious than 3rd degree murder (the lower the degree number, the higher the seriousness).
The article says a likely sentence for 3rd degree murder of more than 10 years, but I've seen other media reports of a likely 10 years. For this case, it's very well worthwhile to go for the stronger charge of 2nd degree murder.
As for the 3rd degree murder charge being difficult to prove, yes, that's right...
But I have seen no reports of the higher charge of 2nd degree murder being difficult to prove. I'm with Keith Ellison on this.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/22/us/derek-chauvin-george-floyd-charge-dropped/index.html
A Hennepin County judge has dropped a third-degree murder charge against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd, but denied the defendant's motion to dismiss two other charges against him.
Chauvin still faces the higher charge of second-degree unintentional murder and a second-degree manslaughter charge in Floyd's death on May 25, ...
... The exception was the third-degree murder charge against Chauvin. Cahill wrote the charge can "be sustained only in situations in which the defendant's actions were 'eminently dangerous to other persons' and were not specifically directed at the particular person whose death occurred."
But the evidence presented by the state does not show that Chauvin's actions were "eminently dangerous" to anyone but Floyd, the ruling says.
... Gov. Tim Walz ultimately appointed [Attorney General Keith] Ellison to take over the case after days of protests and speaking with the Floyd family. Ellison announced a few days later that his office had charged Chauvin with a more serious charge of second-degree murder.
Roc2020
(1,616 posts)That's not a crazy conclusion though. Even now a 3rd degree plea may cause problems. Curious to see what happens.
SKKY
(11,821 posts)...he is probably right.
Mr.Bill
(24,319 posts)Remember all the protests going on that summer.