Chauvin is still facing second-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter charges in Floyd’s death on May 25, sparking nationwide protests and an account about race and police this summer.
In Wednesday’s ruling, Judge Peter Cahill also rejected petitions to dismiss the charges against former Minneapolis police officers accused of aiding and abetting second-degree premeditated murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
Cahill’s ruling states that a jury must decide whether Minnesota has proven guilty of the former officers, and writes in his summary that the state has fulfilled the burden of potential cause in the charges against Thaw, Lin, and Koenig.
The exception was the third-degree murder charge against Chauvin. Cahill wrote that the charge “could only continue in situations where the defendant’s actions were” extremely dangerous to other people “and were not directed specifically at the person whose death occurred.
But the evidence presented by the state does not show that Chauvin’s actions were “extremely dangerous” to anyone except Floyd, as stated in the ruling.
In a statement, Minnesota State Attorney Keith Ellison, who is leading the trial in Floyd’s death case, described the ruling as “a positive step forward on the road to justice for George Floyd, his family, our community and Minnesota.”
Ellison said: “The court has indicted eight of the nine charges against the defendants in the killing of George Floyd, including the most serious charges against the four defendants.”
“We look forward to the prosecution’s case being presented to a jury in Hennepin County.”
Chauvin’s lawyer declined to comment on Thursday. King’s attorney said the ruling “reflects a great deal of knowledge, integrity and work ethic – something that we value.” Attorney Thomas C. Plunkett declined to comment, saying he was still in the process of reviewing the matter.
Lawyers for the other officers did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests for comment Thursday morning. CNN contacted an attorney representing the Floyd family.
