Derek Chauvin who is with charged killing George Floyd will make his first court appearance today

Derek Chauvin who is with charged killing George Floyd will make his first court appearance today – two weeks after the black man’s death sparked protests across the US.

According to Daily Mail, The white Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd will face court for the first time on Monday – two weeks after the black man’s death sparked protests across the United States over police brutality.

Derek Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder in Floyd’s May 25 death after he was filmed kneeling on the 46-year-old’s neck for nearly nine minutes as he gasped for air and repeatedly groaned: ‘Please, I can’t breathe.’ 

Chauvin, who was fired from the Minneapolis Police Department, was initially charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter before he was newly charged with second-degree murder last week. 

His first court appearance in Minneapolis on Monday comes as a public viewing will be held for Floyd in Houston, Texas. 

Chauvin is facing up to 40 years in prison if convicted.  

Three other officers at the scene – Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao – have each been charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Chauvin is being defended by Eric Nelson of the Halberg Criminal Defense firm and is being provided by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.   

Nelson has represented many police officers, often in officer-involved shootings, but none of whom have been charged or gone to trial, a source told Reuters. 

He also represented Amy Senser, the wife of former Minnesota Vikings professional football player Joe Senser, who was convicted for the 2011 hit-and-run death of a Minneapolis chef. She was sentenced to 41 months in prison.

The Halberg firm has 10 lawyers and is the Minnesota’s largest firm that does exclusively criminal defense work. Nelson is the managing partner. 

His court appearance comes one day after councilors in Minneapolis pledged to dismantle and rebuild the police department following Floyd’s death. 

‘We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department,’ Council Member Jeremiah Ellis said on Twitter. 

‘And when we’re done, we’re not simply gonna glue it back together. We are going to dramatically rethink how we approach public safety and emergency response.’