Trial delayed for 2 ex-Minneapolis police officers in George Floyd's death

June 6 (UPI) -- Two former Minneapolis police officers will have the trial related to their roles in the death of George Floyd delayed until early 2023, according to court documents filed Monday.

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill also denied a defense motion to change the venue for the trial of Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng, saying he believes they can eventually receive a fair trial.

The trial date was set for Jan. 5, 2023. Lawyers will file motions regarding the admissibility of evidence. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Jan. 9.

The judge denied a motion Monday, originally filed in April, to review a previous ruling barring audio and video recordings in the courtroom.

"As noted in prior rulings, in these cases, as well as in State vs. Chauvin, this court does not find a change of venue would ameliorate any pernicious effects of pretrial publicity that may have been prejudicial," Cahill wrote in his ruling, referring to the case of former officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted in 2021 for Floyd's murder in 2020.

"While the court agrees that there has been 'saturation news coverage' in the Twin Cities in print and in broadcast media over the past two years since the events of May 25, 2020, defendants ignore that these events have had saturation news coverage throughout the entire state of Minnesota -- not to mention nationally -- as well."

The motion for a change of venue stemmed from a plea deal reached in May by former officer Thomas Lane. Lawyers for Thao and Kueng argued Lane's plea would make it impossible for their clients to receive a fair trial.

The two former officers are charged with aiding and abetting in murder and aiding and abetting in manslaughter.

"Because media coverage of these cases has been extensive throughout the entire state, a change of venue will not cure any jury pool taint created by any prejudicial pretrial publicity, whether the jury is from Hennepin or another county," Cahill wrote in his ruling.

"Finally, and most importantly, the court is satisfied that a fair and impartial trial can eventually be had in Hennepin County."