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A28 u.s. news
Diasabra 25 september 2021

Chauvin to appeal conviction, sentence in Floyd’s death

tors in Floyd’s death. All grounds that Chauvin ecutors to present cumulative
raised in his notice of intent evidence on use of force.
Chauvin is also charged in to appeal had been raised Chauvin said he also intends
federal court with violat- previously by defense attor- to argue that Cahill abused
ing Floyd’s civil rights when ney Eric Nelson as the case his discretion when he failed
he knelt on the Black man’s worked its way through the to allow Chauvin to strike
neck for about 9 1/2 minutes district court. “clearly biased” jurors for
as Floyd was facedown on cause, when he allowed the
the pavement, not resisting Nelson had previously ar- state to add a charge of third-
and pleading for air. He has gued that intense publicity degree murder, when he lim-
pleaded not guilty to those around Floyd’s death taint- ited the admissibility of evi-
charges. ed the jury pool and that dence from a prior arrest of
the trial should have been Floyd, and when he denied
Chauvin had 90 days from moved away from Minne- Nelson’s post-verdict request
his sentencing to file notice apolis. There were reports in for a new trial and request for
that he intends to appeal. In February that Chauvin had a hearing to question jurors
addition to his notice, he also been prepared to plead guilty to investigate alleged miscon-
(AP) — The former Min- filed a motion to put the ap- to third-degree murder and duct.
neapolis police officer He also claimed the judge peals process on hold until an announcement during
convicted of murder in abused his discretion when the Supreme Court reviews jury selection that Minne- Nelson had accused juror
George Floyd’s death in- he denied a request to se- an earlier decision to deny apolis reached a $27 million Brandon Mitchell of not be-
tends to appeal his con- quester the jury for the dura- him a public defender to rep- settlement with Floyd’s fam- ing candid during jury selec-
viction and sentence, say- tion of the trial, and when he resent him in his appeal. ily. Also, the fatal shooting tion because he didn’t men-
ing the judge abused his denied requests to postpone of Daunte Wright by a po- tion his participation in a
discretion or erred during the trial or grant a new one. In an affidavit filed Thurs- lice officer in nearby Brook- march in 2020 to honor the
several key points in the day, Chauvin said he has no lyn Center happened during Rev. Martin Luther King
case, according to docu- Chauvin was convicted ear- attorney in the appeals pro- Chauvin’s trial and sparked Jr. Prosecutors countered
ments filed Thursday. lier this year on state charges cess, and has no income aside days of protests. that Mitchell had been open
of second-degree uninten- from nominal prison wages. about his views in a jury
Derek Chauvin said he tional murder, third-degree His case before Cahill was Chauvin’s court filing also questionnaire and during ju-
intends to appeal on 14 murder and second-degree funded by the Minnesota Po- said the district court erred ror questioning.
grounds. Among them, he manslaughter in Floyd’s 2020 lice and Peace Officers Asso- when it concluded that Mor-
claims Judge Peter Cahill death. He was sentenced ciation’s legal defense fund. ries Hall, the man who was The judge ruled the defense
abused his discretion when to 22 1/2 years – a sentence Chauvin wrote: “I have been with Floyd on the day of his didn’t establish any evidence
he denied Chauvin’s request higher than the presumptive informed that their obliga- arrest, would not be forced of juror misconduct either
to move the trial out of Hen- 12 ½ years after the judge tion to pay for my represen- to testify on behalf of the de- during trial or during jury
nepin County due to pretrial agreed with prosecutors that tation terminated upon my fense. He also said the court selection that warranted an
publicity. there were aggravating fac- conviction and sentencing.” erred when it permitted pros- evidentiary hearing.

Groundbreaking for Obama presidential center set for Tuesday

(AP) — Former President met and married his wife and for her and her husband that
Barack Obama’s presi- lived with their family. The the future on the South Side
dential center will move former first lady grew up on of Chicago “is as bright as it is
another step closer to its Chicago’s South Side. anywhere.”
brick-and-mortar future But the planning process hit
next week when ground numerous snags due to a le- Barack Obama has described
is broken after years of gal battle with park preser- the center as a hub for youth
reviews, other delays and vationists and protests from programming and public
continued local opposi- neighborhood activists who gatherings that will jump-
tion. feared the planned $500 mil- start the economy on the
lion center would displace city’s South Side, parts of
Obama and his wife, Mi- Black residents. which are impoverished, by
chelle, will join Illinois Gov. bringing attention, jobs and
J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Chicago’s City Council has visitors. Foundation officials
Mayor Lori Lightfoot in since approved neighbor- estimate the center will help
Chicago on Tuesday for a hood protections, and a four- create about 5,000 jobs, both
groundbreaking ceremony year federal review process during and after construc-
for the Obama Presidential that was needed because of tion.
Center. its location in Jackson Park
— which is on the National Funding will be raised
“Michelle and I could not be Register of Historic Places — through private donations.
more excited to break ground was recently completed.
on the Obama Presidential The complex will sit on 19
Center in the community Officials announced in Feb- acres of the 540-acre Jackson
that we love,” the former ruary that construction Park and include a museum,
president says, seated be- would begin this year, start- public library branch, athletic
side his wife, in a video an- ing with the relocation of center, children’s play area
nouncement shared first with utility lines followed by ac- and a test kitchen. Obama’s
The Associated Press. tual construction. presidential papers will be
available in digital form.
The former president in 2016 “This project has reminded
chose a site in a historic lake- us why the South Side and The Obama Foundation will
front park on the South Side the people who live here are also donate up to $3.5 mil-
of Chicago to build his presi- so special,” the former first lion toward a public track and
dential library, near where lady said in the video, adding field facility in the area, city
he began his political career, that the effort has reaffirmed officials have said.