According to a recent tweet by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobucha, Attorney General Keith Ellison is increasing charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to second-degree murder while also charging the other three officers involved in the arrest and brutal murder of George Floyd.
“Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is increasing charges against Derek Chauvin to 2nd degree in George Floyd’s murder and also charging other 3 officers. This is another important step for justice,” the Democratic senator tweeted.
Derek, who had his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, had previously been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
But complainants from Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Floyd family, led to the increase in the degree of the charges. Crump has continued to call for the charge on Chauvin to be elevated to first-degree murder.
According to CNN, Chauvin is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Meanwhile Under Minnesota law, “third-degree murder is defined as causing the death of a person by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for life but without intent to kill”.
“Second-degree murder, a more serious charge, is defined as when a person causes the death of another with intent to effect the death of that person but without premeditation”.
