ADDS DETAILS THROUGHOUT
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) – A US judge in the state of Minnesota reinstated on Wednesday a third-degree murder charge against a former officer on trial for the death of George Floyd, according to reports.
Derek Chauvin initially faced the count of third-degree murder, but Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill dismissed it in October as unwarranted.
State officials, however, appealed Cahill's decision, and an appellate court ordered the judge to re-evaluate the decision last week.
Cahill ultimately agreed that a precedent established in an unrelated case involving another Minneapolis police officer set the stage for the charge to be re-added against Chauvin.
He also faces second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. Chauvin has pleaded not guilty.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said shortly after last week's appellate court ruling that the third-degree murder charge "reflects the gravity of the allegations against Mr. Chauvin."
"Adding this charge is an important step forward in the path toward justice. We look forward to presenting all charges to the jury in Hennepin County," the state's top law enforcement official said in a statement.
Floyd's death in May 2020 prompted widespread calls for justice and renewed fervor and unrest regarding police-involved killings of Black men in the US.
"I can't breathe," his dying words, became a rallying cry for worldwide protests.
Chauvin, who is white, is accused of killing Floyd during the fatal arrest. Disturbing bystander and police video shows Floyd pinned to the ground in handcuffs by Chauvin, his neck compressed by the officer's knee for nearly nine minutes.
Floyd pleaded with the since-fired officer, telling him he cannot breathe, calling out to his mother and saying "everything hurts" with some of his final words before he appeared to lose consciousness. The officer continued to hold the position on Floyd's neck.
The city of Minneapolis has since banned police from using chokeholds and neck restraints.
