Page 26 - bon-dia-aruba-20200630

A26 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 30 June 2020
Judge warns of possible move of trial in George Floyd death

By STEVE KARNOWSKI of all parties. Kueng's at-
Associated Press torney, Tom Plunkett, was
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A the attorney asking Cahill
Minnesota judge on Mon- to reconsider his ruling on
day warned that he's likely cameras. He asserted that
to move the trials of four prosecutors and other offi-
police officers charged in cials forfeited their right to
George Floyd's death out object to cameras in the
of Minneapolis if public of- courtroom by making pub-
ficials and attorneys don't lic comments that went as
stop talking about the far as "saying the defen-
case. dants are guilty of murder."
Hennepin County Judge He said allowing electronic
Peter Cahill stopped short coverage of pretrial pro-
of issuing a gag order on ceedings would actually
attorneys, but he said one make it easier to impanel a
is likely if public statements fair jury by helping to "edu-
continue. Cahill added that This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on cate the public that there
such a situation would also Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows Derek Chauvin, from left, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and may be more to the cases
make him likely to grant a Tou Thao. than what has been told to
change-of-venue motion Associated Press them by the state."
if one is filed."The court is old Black man's neck for he likely would "have to sparked protests around The charges against
not going to be happy nearly eight minutes. The pull (trials) out of Hennepin the world against police Chauvin are unintentional
about hearing about the officers were responding to County and they need to brutality. second-degree murder,
case in three areas: media, a call about a man trying be aware of that." Chauvin remains in custody third-degree murder and
evidence and guilt or inno- to pass a counterfeit $20 bill Cahill set a March 8 trial on $1 million bail and Thao second-degree man-
cence," Cahill said. at a nearby store. date for the former officers is being held on $750,000 slaughter. Second-degree
It was the second pretrial Floyd's death was univer- if they are tried together, bail. Lane and Kueng are murder carries a maximum
hearing for the officers, who sally condemned in Minne- though he said he expects free on bond. penalty of 40 years in pris-
were fired after Floyd's May sota, with elected officials motions to be filed to sep- Cahill also rejected a de- on, third-degree murder
25 death. Derek Chauvin, including Minneapolis May- arate their trials. The next fense request to reconsider carries up to 25 years and
44, is charged with sec- or Jacob Frey calling for court date is Sept. 11. his earlier decision to allow manslaughter up to 10.
ond-degree murder and the officers to be charged. The defendants have not cameras in the courtroom The other three former of-
other counts, while Thomas Police Chief Medaria Arra- entered pleas. Chauvin's during pretrial proceed- ficers are charged with
Lane, 37, J. Kueng, 26, and dondo said Floyd's death attorney has not comment- ings. Defense attorneys aiding and abetting both
Tou Thao, 34, are charged was "murder." ed publicly on the charges, asked to allow such cover- second-degree murder
with aiding and abetting Cahill asked Assistant At- while Lane's and Kueng's age, but prosecutors ob- and second-degree man-
Chauvin. torney General Matthew attorneys have sought to jected. The judge has not slaughter. Those charges
Floyd died after Chauvin, Frank to use his influence to minimize their clients' roles ruled on whether to allow are legally tantamount to
a white police officer, keep public officials silent, and deflect blame to cameras for the trial itself, the counts against Chauvin
pressed his knee against warning that if they con- the more senior Chauvin which in Minnesota usu- and carry the same
the handcuffed 46-year- tinued to discuss it publicly, in Floyd's death, which ally requires the consent penalties.q

Cape Cod officials warn of white sharks ahead of July Fourth

two shark attacks on seals Great whites have been
in recent days, the Cape coming to the Cape in
Cod Times reports. greater numbers each sum-
And Gregory Skomal, a mer to prey on the region's
prominent shark scientist large seal colonies. Most
with the state Division of tend to favor the Atlantic
Marine Fisheries, says he Ocean-facing beaches
tagged three great whites where seals tend to con-
circling a whale carcass gregate, but researchers
earlier this month as his have found them off nearly
research team began its every part of the Cape.
work for the season. Local residents concerned
The peninsula southeast of about the booming shark
Boston saw two shark at- population, meanwhile,
tacks on humans in 2018, say they'll boost their efforts
one of them fatal. Officials to help protect swimmers
In this May, 22, 2019, file photo, a woman walks with her dogs at Newcomb Hollow Beach in have recommended swim- this summer.
Wellfleet, Mass., where a boogie boarder was bitten by a shark in 2018 and later died of his injuries. mers remain in waist deep More pilots have volun-
Associated Press water where possible and teered to radio in shark
WELLFLEET, Mass. (AP) — the famous Massachusetts Reynolds warned at a news avoid areas where sharks sightings as they fly over
Cape Cod's beaches and destination remains a pop- conference that the pow- have been previously spot- the peninsula, said Heather
towns may be quieter be- ular getaway for other sum- erful predators are coming ted as they weigh a range Doyle, co-founder of Cape
cause of the coronavirus mertime travelers: great close enough to shore to of responses to protect Cod Ocean Community, a
pandemic, but officials are white sharks. be a concern for swimmers. beachgoers and preserve local group that advocates
reminding visitors ahead of Cape Cod National Sea- Officials in Orleans also the region's tourist econo- for white shark surveillance
the July Fourth holiday that shore Chief Ranger Leslie have documented at least my. and detection measures.q