George Floyd protests: second-degree murder charge added against one officer, 3 others charged
- Second-degree murder charge added to the case against the ex-officer kneeling on George Floyd's neck, while three others were charged with aiding and abetting
- US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said he does not want troops deployed in American cities to quell protests, in contrast to President Trump
Derek Chauvin, the former police officer arrested for the death of George Floyd, faces a new charge of second-degree murder, the state of Minnesota announced on Wednesday while also filing charges of aiding and abetting murder against the three other former officers on the scene.
The new charges came after more than a week of protests across the United States that showed little sign of abating and members of Floyd's family and protesters across the country had called for more severe charges against all four officers.
“We strongly believe these developments are in the interest of jutstice for Mr Floyd, his family, this community and our state,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Wednesday.
“George Floyd mattered. He was loved, his family was important and his life had value,” Ellison said. “We will seek justice for him and for you and we will find it.”
Benjamin Crump, the attorney for the Floyd family, said that “this is a significant step forward on the road to justice, and we are gratified that this important action was brought before George Floyd’s body was laid to rest.