Mistrial Motion Denied Hours Before Derek Chauvin Sentencing

MINNEAPOLIS — Judge Peter Cahill Friday denied former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's request for a mistrial and ruled that he will not hold a hearing for jury misconduct.

Judge Cahill's ruling comes hours before Chauvin's sentencing Friday afternoon.

Chauvin "failed to demonstrate" that the court and state prosecutors deprived him "of his constitutional right to a fair trial," the judge wrote.

Eric Nelson, the defense attorney for Chauvin, filed a motion in May for a new trial. Nelson said the court abused its authority and that the state committed misconduct during the trial, and that the April 20 verdict should be thrown out.

Chauvin, 45, was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in George Floyd's death on Memorial Day 2020.

Nelson cited 10 reasons why Chauvin deserves a new trial. "The cumulative effect of the multiple errors in these proceedings deprived Mr. Chauvin of a fair trial, in violation of his constitutional rights," Nelson wrote.

Read more: Derek Chauvin's Attorney Cites These 10 Reasons For New Trial

Judge Cahill will announce the sentence at Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis at 1:30 p.m. Chauvin and his attorney faces an uphill battle for a reduced sentence.

Read more: Derek Chauvin Sentencing In Death Of George Floyd