You have No inside info, all standard procedures for Crim defense . Will be huge pressure to make A plea dealon both sides and yes protective custody a given. Look at what the incident incited, A poor result at trial could bring down society.I have kind of inside info here. Best friends wife is a defense attorney and him, her and I spoke at length.
First thing she sees happening is any attorney worth their weight is going to find out about plea agreements and protected custody possibilities.
The second thing they will do is file a movement of trial location on the basis that Minneapolis is not capable of a unbiased jury base. He or she will want the jury to be as white and away from the city as possible. Much like rodney king trial being moved out of the city.
The third would be a extension to collect counsel and evidence. She would extend it for years if possible and also would not allow any of the fellow officers testimonies to be allowed permissible.
If she can get all of these things she would advise client to take a plea for involuntary manslaughter.. cops arent going to get more than 2 years maybe.
She doesnt get the deal she goes to trial anywhere on earth she feels it's less than 30% hes convicted of 2nd degree murder in anywhere but Minneapolis (she says she wouldn't take it to trail in the actual city, it's a no win situation but also no judge, DA etc is in the city will want the case there either more than likely) it's a unprecedented crime for a cop to be accused of.
Video or not she would argue there was never a training video that didnt say you cant use a knee to detain a arrested suspect, she could have testimony of fellow officers of color to attempt to erase any racist ideology etc, theres a ton of avenues where she could see him being found not guilty on all charges.
+300 on 2nd degree murder
-150 manslaughter
im not gonna look through the statue and elements required to prove 2 Nd degree but they wouldn’t have upgraded if they didn’t think they can prove it. Many statues have language “ knew or should have known , “ reasonable person “. The only fact that works in defense favor is he was working and the burdens are different. The trial likely will not be moved either but if it were it would be to a similar county .
every attorney tries to draw out time from arrest to trial , in this case it won’t matter or be allowed and forget about excluding fellow officer testimony unless it was taken improperly.
finally, look at the words he spoke with this animal on his neck , it’s incredible. He was defenseless. Even the absence of a training manual if it exists will be meaningless. He begged for his life, was cooperating at the time and this fuck will be convicted of an intentional crime 100%. Because that what it was a cold blooded murder, when additional facts are revealed about there connection to work it will only serve to support the intent.
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