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A28 u.s. news
Diabierna 14 Mei 2021

Trial for 3 ex-cops charged in Floyd's death pushed to March

are talking about a plea deal, particu- would do the same.
larly since their attorneys supported
the delay and the prosecution did not. Cahill said he would hold an eviden-
tiary hearing on the issue, probably in
"One can infer that the defense attor- August.
neys are hoping that the federal case
will offer lower penalties for their In a separate motion, Earl Gray, Lane's
clients and a dismissal of the state attorney, asked Cahill to compel the
charges," Osler said. state to disclose all use-of-force re-
ports over the past 30 years — after
Although federal civil rights viola- initially asking for data dating back
tions can carry the possibility of the 50 years — in which a Minneapolis
death penalty, experts say that won't police officer used force and another
happen. Osler said Chauvin could officer intervened verbally or physi-
face a life sentence if convicted on cally. Gray said it's necessary to show
the federal charges but declined to the jury that no such intervention has
(AP) — The trial of three for- predict potential federal sentences for been made, which would call into
mer Minneapolis police officers The order for the delay came during the others. He said they could be less question the state's expert testimony
charged with aiding and abetting a hearing on pretrial motions. The than they might get in state court. about the duty of officers to inter-
in the death of George Floyd will former officers were not in court, Minnesota law treats aiding and vene.
be pushed back to March 2022, in but their defense attorneys all agreed abetting the same as the underly- Frank argued that the request was
part to allow the publicity over to the postponement. The state, via ing crime. So, if the three other ex- overly broad and should be denied;
Derek Chauvin's conviction to Assistant Attorney General Matthew officers are convicted, the state's Cahill said he would take it under ad-
cool off, a judge ruled Thursday. Frank, did not support the delay. It sentencing guidelines would recom- visement.
wasn't made clear at the hearing who mend sentences of 12 1/2 years on the
Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao originally sought the change. The at- murder counts and four years on the Thao's attorney, Bob Paule, filed a
were to face trial Aug. 23 on charges torneys left the courthouse without manslaughter counts. But Cahill has motion late Wednesday asking the
they aided and abetted both murder commenting. some flexibility to go up or down a court to sanction prosecutors for al-
and manslaughter. Their co-defen- few years without providing an expla- legedly failing to disclose informa-
dant, Chauvin, was convicted in April Chauvin, who was seen in widely nation, and he could go significantly tion about the alleged coercion of a
of murder and manslaughter. All four viewed bystander video pressing his higher if he formally finds there were witness. Paule claimed that the Hen-
officers also face federal charges that knee into Floyd's neck as the Black aggravating factors as he did with nepin County medical examiner, Dr.
they violated Floyd's civil rights dur- man said he couldn't breathe, was Chauvin. Mark Baker, was coerced to include
ing his May 25 arrest. convicted in April of second-degree During Thursday's hearing, attorneys "neck compression" in his findings —
unintentional murder, third-degree for the defense argued that prosecu- and that prosecutors knew of it.
Judge Peter Cahill said he moved the murder and manslaughter. He's to be tors should be sanctioned after media
other officers' trial so the federal case sentenced June 25, with legal experts reports that Chauvin had planned to Frank, in a brief letter to Cahill, said,
can go forward first. No date has been saying he faces up to 30 years in pris- plead guilty a year ago. Frank said the "The bizarre allegations offered in
set for the federal case, but Cahill said on, though he could get less. Attorney General's Office was will- support of the motion are false and
it carries higher potential penalties. ing to submit affidavits from person- wrong and we intend to file a com-
He also said he felt the need to put Former federal prosecutor Mark Os- nel involved in the case to state that plete response."
some distance between the three of- ler, now a professor at the University they were not the source of the leak. The issue did not come up during
ficers' trial and Chauvin's due to the of St. Thomas School of Law, said the A prosecutor from the Hennepin Thursday's hearing.
high-profile nature of the case. delay could mean the former officers County Attorney's Office said they

Texas lawmakers approve abortion ban as early as 6 weeks

(AP) — Texas would ban abor- perts say. And they argue that it would violate woman with a life-threatening medi-
tions after as early as six weeks state constitutional requirements that cal condition or if the fetus has a se-
— before many women even A unique provision in the Texas bill civil lawsuits can be filed only by im- vere abnormality.
know they are pregnant — and prohibits state officials from enforc- pacted parties. Under the bill, a per-
allow private citizens to enforce ing the ban. Instead, it allows anyone, son filing the lawsuit would not need Proponents of these so-called "heart-
the rule through civil lawsuits even someone outside of Texas, to any personal connection to the abor- beat bills" are hoping for a legal chal-
against doctors and others under sue a doctor or anyone else who may tion in question. lenge to eventually reach the U.S.
a measure given final approval by have helped someone get an abortion Supreme Court, where they look for
state lawmakers Thursday. after the time limit, and seek financial The bill has been opposed by medical the conservative coalition assembled
damages. groups. under President Donald Trump to
The Senate vote sends the bill to end the constitutional right to abor-
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who "The Texas Heartbeat Act is novel Texas law currently bans abortion af- tion protected under the high court's
is expected to sign it into law. That in approach, allowing for citizens ter 20 weeks, with exceptions for a landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.
would bring Texas in line with about to hold abortionists accountable
a dozen other GOP-led states that through private lawsuits. No heart-
have passed so-called "heartbeat bills" beat law passed by another state has
that have been mostly blocked by fed- taken this strategy. Additionally, the
eral courts. The Texas measure is also bill does not punish women who ob-
likely to draw a swift legal challenge tain abortions," said Rebecca Parma,
from abortion rights groups. Texas Right to Life senior legislative
associate.
The bill would ban abortions after
the first detection of an embryonic Critics say that provision would al-
"heartbeat." Advanced technology can low abortion opponents to flood the
detect an electric signal flutter as early courts with lawsuits to harass doc-
as six weeks into a pregnancy, even tors, patients, nurses, domestic vio-
though the embryo isn't yet a fetus lence counselors, a friend who drove
and doesn't have a heart. An embryo a woman to a clinic, or even a parent
is termed a fetus beginning in the who paid for a procedure.
11th week of pregnancy, medical ex-