This lower charge ensures conviction. They know they can't convict him on second-degree murder charge.
"NYT: BREAKING NEWS
A judge reinstated a third-degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin in George Floyd’s death, clearing the way for the trial to move forward."
"NYT: BREAKING NEWS
A judge reinstated a third-degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin in George Floyd’s death, clearing the way for the trial to move forward."
Derek Chauvin was initially correctly charged with third-degree murder. But there was an uproar and they upgraded the charge to second-degree to appease the crowds. Now they reinstate the third-degree murder charge because they know they overcharged and cannot get a conviction.
Second-degree murder is harder to prove than the third-degree murder. Second-degree requires evidence of intent to kill. Third-degree does not. Third-degree is a weaker charge, with a lower burden of proof, than the second-degree.
It is not possible to convict Derek Chauvin on a second-degree murder charge, which requires establishment of intent to kill, when there is an audio tape of Chauvin telling all his colleagues not to do anything that might kill Floyd. Excessive force? Likely. Intent to kill? No.
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