George Floyd murder trial to be broadcast on UK TV channel
The trial of four police officers accused of killing George Floyd will be broadcast in the UK as part of a new series dedicated to covering court action.
The forthcoming trial of the Minneapolis men is one of the highlights promoted by the production company behind Court TV, which launched on Wednesday on Sky.
Floyd’s death on 25 May triggered protests and riots across the US and led to demonstrations by the Black Lives Matter movement across the globe.
Floyd died after a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck for nine minutes.
Derek Chauvin has been charged with murder and manslaughter, while three others – Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao – face charges of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter.
Court TV ran for 27 years from 1991 in America. It was relaunched two years ago by Katz Networks and the EW Scripps Company, and is now airing in Britain.
Another forthcoming case on Court TV centres around three white men accused of murder in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was shot while jogging through his south Georgia neighbourhood.
Read More: Millions of people in the UK now under local lockdown - these are all the areas affected
Jonathan Katz, president of the Katz Network, said: “There’s been nothing like Court TV in the United Kingdom until now.
“We anticipate viewers in the UK will embrace having a front-row seat to American criminal justice.”
Trial coverage will air at primetime in the UK to allow for the time difference between the UK and US. Court TV is planning content for the UK to explain the differences between the two countries’ justice systems, including why cameras are allowed in courtrooms in the US, but not in the UK.
The former officers appeared in court on 11 September for a hearing on the prosecution's request to hold a joint trial, a defence request to move the trial out of Minneapolis, and other issues.
Prosecutors told a judge that the men should face trial together because the evidence and charges against them are similar, and multiple trials could traumatise witnesses and Floyd's family.
But defence lawyers have argued for separate trials, saying they could offer "antagonistic" defences and the evidence against one officer could negatively affect another.
The full trial is expected to begin in 2021.
Coronavirus: what happened today
Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter
Watch: What are the current UK government guidelines on face coverings within schools?