Court rulings and legal announcements

Judge Grants Derek Chauvin Access to George Floyd's Autopsy Samples for Appeal Against Federal Civil Rights Conviction

Dec 17, 2024, 05:21 PM

A Minneapolis judge has granted Derek Chauvin's legal team the right to examine preserved heart tissue and fluid samples from George Floyd's autopsy as part of an appeal against his federal civil rights conviction. Chauvin's defense is pursuing this examination based on a medical theory suggesting that Floyd's death may have been caused by underlying health conditions rather than Chauvin's actions. This ruling allows Chauvin's team to test the samples, which they claim were not adequately considered during the original trial. The judge's decision comes amid ongoing discussions about the circumstances surrounding Floyd's death and the medical findings related to his health at the time of the incident. Chauvin has been incarcerated for over two years following his conviction for the murder of Floyd, which was widely publicized and led to significant social unrest. The examination of Floyd's autopsy samples could play a crucial role in Chauvin's appeal process, as it may provide evidence supporting the defense's claims regarding Floyd's health issues.