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Protests outside the courthouse in Minneapolis
Photo: KEREM YUCEL / AFP
After the violent death of the African American George Floyd, the police officers involved appeared in court for the first time on Friday.
Defense lawyers for the four defendants called for separate trials for their clients at the Minneapolis hearing.
According to court records, the men also blamed each other for Floyd's death.
Floyd died in late May after a brutal police operation in Minneapolis.
The white policeman Derek Chauvin had his knee behind his neck for more than eight minutes, although the 46-year-old family man complained more than 20 times that he could not breathe.
Floyd had been arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit $ 20 bill.
The case had sparked mass protests against racism and police violence in the US and many other countries.
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Thomas Lane is one of four main suspects
Photo: Jim Mone / AP
The main accused, Chauvin, is charged with "second and third degree murder" and manslaughter.
Chauvin's former colleagues Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are charged with aiding and abetting.
George Floyd's family at Vikings Stadium
Chauvin alleged, according to court records, Floyd died of a fentanyl overdose.
He also accused two of his ex-colleagues for not having correctly assessed Floyd's condition.
The public prosecutor's office described the theory of an overdose as "ridiculous" and demanded that all four accused be brought to justice together because they had acted "in close coordination with one another".
After the hearing, Floyd's family lawyer, Ben Crump, accused the other side of tarnishing the deceased's image for tactical reasons.
"The only overdose that killed George Floyd was an overdose of excessive violence and racism by Minneapolis police," he said.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that the deceased's family will attend the Minnesota Vikings' first season game of the National Football League (NFL) at the stadium.
This was announced by the Minneapolis franchise.
Before the game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the family will be honored, before the unofficial anthem of the blacks "Lift Every Voice And Sing" is played.
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