#Judge holds firm on allowing livestream of George Floyd trial

A Minnesota judge has reaffirmed his decision to livestream the trial of four police officers charged in the death of George Floyd — whose caught-on-video demise sparked nationwide protests for weeks.

Judge Peter Cahill rejected the arguments of prosecutors who felt allowing cameras inside the courtroom could violate court rules or scare away witnesses.

Citing the limited space in the courthouse and intense public interest in the trial — which is expected to start in March — Cahill stood by his decision to allow cameras, as originally rendered in November.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin — a white man who was filmed pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes — faces second-degree unintentional murder and manslaughter charges. Fellow officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are each charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.

The officers were fired after Floyd’s death.