Former cop Derek Chauvin booed after court hearing over the killing of George Floyd

The police officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes before his death has appeared in person in court for the first time since the May 25 killing, and was heckled as he was escorted to a corrections department SUV afterwards.

Derek Chauvin, 44, has been charged with murder and is currently being held in custody, while three other officers are free on bail.

On Friday he was present in court for the first time, having previously appeared via videolink. 

Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, face mask and handcuffs, he was led away by correction officers after the three hour hearing, as protesters near the court shouted abuse at him. 

During the hearing, the judge presiding over the case on Friday dismissed the local prosecutor from the murder trial, accusing him and his team of 'sloppy' work.

Mike Freeman, Hennepin County attorney, was removed from the case along with the three other members of his team.

Judge Peter Cahill said that Freeman acted in error by sending his staff to speak to the medical examiners following George Floyd's May 25 death, without having any independent witnesses to their discussion. 

'It was sloppy not to have someone present,' said Cahill. 

'Those four attorneys are off the case. They are now witnesses.' 

The medical examiner's verdict is expected to play a key, and highly controversial, role in the trial.

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