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Third-Degree Murder Charge Dropped Against Minneapolis Officer Arrested in
George Floyd's Death

VOA News

   A Minnesota judge has dropped a third-degree murder charge against a
   former Minneapolis police officer charged in the May 25 death of George
   Floyd.

   Derek Chauvin, the officer who was videotaped with his knee pressed
   against Floyd's neck for more than eight minutes, still faces the more
   serious charge of second-degree murder as well as a manslaughter
   charge.

   The ruling by Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill was
   made public Thursday.

   Cahill also ruled that cases against three other former officers, J.
   Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, for aiding and abetting,
   could go forward despite defense attorneys requesting the charges be
   dismissed.

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