Chauvin files for new trial over conviction in George Floyd's murder

Trump pardon of Derek Chauvin unlikely, MPD Chief says

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Monday there is "no credible information" that President Donald Trump will pardon Derek Chauvin in the Memorial Day 2020 death of George Floyd.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of second-degree unintentional murder for the death of George Floyd, has filed an appeal asking for a new trial. 

The filing was submitted on Nov. 20, 2025. 

The Minneapolis Court of Appeals previously denied an appeal for a new trial back in 2023.

State forensic testimony 

State questions Dr. Fowler on role of asphyxia in death of George Floyd

The state questions Dr. Fowler, a retired medical examiner called by the defense, on the role of asphyxia in the death of George Floyd.

What they're saying:

The filing states that Dr. Andrew Baker performed the autopsy on George Floyd the day after his death and determined that he died of "cardiopulmonary arrest, complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression" but did not find any evidence of injuries consistent with asphyxia. 

Four other physicians who reviewed Baker's medical investigation determined that Floyd died of asphyxia. However, Chauvin contends that their determinations relied on video evidence of Floyd being restrained by Minneapolis officers. 

The filing states that Chauvin retained a group of physicians at the Forensic Panel who will testify that the methodology used by the physicians who testified at trial "is not generally accepted in the scientific community."

Chauvin also retained a forensic analyst of Critical Incident Review to explain the limitations of video evidence.

The filing claims that Chauvin was deprived of his rights to due process because of the mentioned actions taken by the court. 

READ MORE: Derek Chauvin trial: Medical expert says George Floyd died of 'low level of oxygen'

Dr. Martin Tobin, one of the nation’s foremost experts in the science of breathing, testified in the trial as an expert witness for the state, but was not paid to testify. 

Dr. Tobin said he reviewed the medical records related to the case as well as videos of the deadly arrest and concluded Floyd "died from a low level of oxygen" that caused brain damage and a PEA (pulseless electrical activity) arrhythmia that caused his heart to stop.

Police training testimony 

Homicide detective says a knee on a person's neck would be deadly force

Under questioning during the Derek Chauvin trial, Lt. Richard Zimmerman of the Minneapolis Police Department explains how a knee restraint on a person's neck would be considered deadly force.

Dig deeper:

Chauvin also states that the three Minneapolis police supervisors swore on the stand that the tactic of placing a knee on a suspect's neck as a restraint tactic was not consistent with Minneapolis police policy. 

However, the filing states that 34 current and former Minneapolis police officers have come forward with sworn statements to attest the knee-to-neck tactic was part of their training and consistent with the department policy. 

READ MORE: Use of force experts: George Floyd video 'like a checklist of things done incorrectly’

Other law enforcement experts said the technique is one that won’t be found in any current training manual, and it should only be used for a brief period until a suspect can be placed in handcuffs. 

What's next:

Chauvin is currently in custody at the Federal Correctional Institution in Big Spring, Texas. 

He is set to be released from federal prison in November 2037.