Derek Chauvin to appeal murder conviction in George Floyd case

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin filed documents Thursday with the state appellate court appealing his conviction and sentencing for his role in the murder of George Floyd last year. 

According to a copy of the filing, Chauvin said that he found 14 issues with court proceedings, including that the district court abused its discretion when it denied a motion by Chauvin to change the venue of the trial and denied Chauvin’s motions to sequester the jury.  

The filing also claimed that the district court abused its discretion when it did not allow Chauvin to be able to strike “clearly biased jurors voir dire” and when it denied a post-verdict motion by Chauvin to a new trial because of juror misconduct allegations.

Chauvin’s filing also claimed that the district court “prejudicially erred” when it allowed prosecutors to “present cumulative evidence with respect to use of force.”

On April 20, Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder and manslaughter as well as third-degree murder for killing George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, in Minnesota in May 2020.

Bystander footage taken that day showed the then-police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck for several minutes before Floyd became unresponsive. He was later taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

The video went viral on social media last year and sparked nationwide protests over Floyd’s death, racial injustice and police brutality.

In late June of this year, Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison. 

Chauvin is not represented by anyone, according to the affidavit filed. 

“The district court case for which I intend to appeal was paid for by the Minneapolis Peace and Police Officer’s Association, and I have been informed that their obligation to pay for my representation terminated upon by conviction and sentencing,” the affidavit said. Chauvin noted he had no real source of income.

According to The Associated Press, a file noting that Chauvin intended to appeal the conviction had to be filed 90 days from when he was issued his sentence.