Chauvin to likely seek to overturn his convictions

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin stands after a jury finds him guilty of all charges in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. April 20, 2021. /Reuters

Former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin will likely seek to overturn his murder and manslaughter convictions by arguing that the jury was prejudiced by media coverage and a settlement in the civil case brought by George Floyd's family, though his odds of success are slim, legal experts said.

A jury on Tuesday

found that Chauvin was guilty

of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree "depraved mind" murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Floyd, a Black man.

Chauvin's attorneys will have to notify the trial court within 60 days if they plan to appeal. His lawyers then have months to review transcripts and court filings dating from the start of the case to build their arguments.

Two weeks before trial testimony began, Minneapolis agreed to pay $27 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by Floyd's family over his death.

Chauvin's lawyers may cite Judge Peter Cahill's decision to hold the trial in Minneapolis as a reason to overturn the conviction.

The defense had argued it was impossible to find an impartial jury in the city, which was rocked by protests over Floyd's death. But the judge said the case was one of the most scrutinized in history and moving it would not make much of a difference.

Legal experts said there was little precedent for challenging a case based on venue and that trials are rarely moved in Minnesota.

To lodge a successful appeal, Chauvin would have to show that Cahill engaged in an "abuse of discretion," or made a mistake that was clearly unreasonable or against the evidence.

That standard is "almost always insurmountable," said Paul Applebaum, a Minnesota criminal defense lawyer.

(With input from Reuters)