Author: Amy Forliti
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Ex-cops Kueng, Thao sentenced for violating Floyd’s rights
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ST. PAUL, Minn. • A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced two former Minneapolis police officers who were convicted of violating George Floyd’s civil rights to lighter terms than recommended in sentencing guidelines, calling one “truly a rookie officer” and describing the other as “a good police officer, father and husband.” U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson…
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Abortion ban takes effect in Tennessee, paused in Texas
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NASHVILLE, TENN. • A federal court Tuesday allowed Tennessee to ban abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy, while a Texas judge temporarily blocked enforcement of that state’s decades-old ban on virtually all abortions, in a flurry of activity set off at courthouses across the U.S. by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Statewide…
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Jury ends 1st day with no verdict for 3 cops in Floyd slaying
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ST. PAUL, Minn. • A jury wrapped up its first day of deliberations Wednesday without a verdict in the federal trial of three fired Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights when he was pinned to the ground for 91/2 minutes as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck.…
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Prosecutor: 3 cops in Floyd killing ‘chose to do nothing’
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ST. PAUL, Minn. • Three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights “chose to do nothing” as a fellow officer squeezed the life out of Floyd, a prosecutor said in her closing argument Tuesday. Defense attorneys countered that the officers were too inexperienced, weren’t trained properly and did not willfully violate…
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Jurors in Potter trial ask about not reaching verdict
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MINNEAPOLIS • Jurors weighing the case of the suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright asked the judge after a full day of deliberations Tuesday what they should do if they can’t reach a verdict. Judge Regina Chu told them to continue working, as was explained in the initial instructions…
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Prosecutor: Potter ‘failed’ Wright; defense calls it mistake
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MINNEAPOLIS • A suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she mistakenly drew her gun instead of her Taser when she fatally shot Black motorist Daunte Wright went on trial on manslaughter charges Wednesday, with a prosecutor saying Kim Potter had been trained how to avoid such deadly mix-ups but still got it wrong. Potter’s lawyer,…
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Ruling paves way for longer sentence in George Floyd’s death
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge has ruled that there were aggravating factors in the death of George Floyd, paving the way for the possibility of a longer sentence for Derek Chauvin, according to an order made public Wednesday. In his ruling dated Tuesday, Judge Peter Cahill found Chauvin abused his authority as a police…
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Chauvin’s lawyer seeks new trial, impeachment of verdict
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MINNEAPOLIS • The defense attorney for the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd has requested a new trial, saying the court abused its discretion, and he wants a hearing to have the verdict impeached because of what he says is jury misconduct, according to a court document filed Tuesday. Derek Chauvin, who…
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Defense rests without Chauvin testimony at murder trial
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MINNEAPOLIS • Former officer Derek Chauvin chose not to take the stand as testimony at his murder trial ended Thursday, passing up the chance to explain to the jury and the public for the first time what he was thinking when he pressed his knee against George Floyd’s neck. Closing arguments are set to begin…
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Expert blames George Floyd’s death on heart rhythm problem
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MINNEAPOLIS • George Floyd died of a sudden heart rhythm disturbance as a result of his heart disease, a forensic pathologist testified for the defense Wednesday at former officer Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, contradicting experts who said Floyd succumbed to a lack of oxygen from the way he was pinned down. Dr. David Fowler, a…