George Floyd: Four police officers charged with violating civil rights

2021-05-07 21:18:52

Four ex-police officers have been charged with violating the civil rights of African-American George Floyd, whose murder in Minneapolis last year sparked global outrage. A federal grand jury in Minnesota indicted the four - who include Derek Chauvin, the officer convicted in April of Floyd's murder. Prosecutors say they wilfully "deprived Mr Floyd of his constitutional rights". Chauvin was filmed kneeling on Mr Floyd's neck for over nine minutes. The former policeman was found guilty of murder and manslaughter, in a criminal case filed by the state of Minnesota His legal team requested a new trial on Wednesday, accusing both prosecutors and jurors of misconduct. The white former officer will be sentenced next month and faces up to 40 years in prison.