A Minneapolis judge hoped on Monday that he could start the trial of the police officers involved in the murder of George Floyd on March 8, but threatened to disorient him if the parties continue to speak in the media on this matter which revolted the United States.

“I would like the pre-trial publicity not to include any communications from the families of the parties, their friends or elected officials,” said magistrate Peter Cahill during a long-awaited hearing in this city in the northern United States. United.

Dressed in an orange prisoner costume, his face covered with a mask, ex-agent Derek Chauvin appeared by video link from the high-security prison where he has been detained for a month. This 44-year-old white man is charged with murder for suffocating George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, by kneeling on his neck for long minutes.

His three former colleagues Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, prosecuted for complicity in the murder, appeared in person before the judge. The first two were released on bail on bail of $ 750,000. The latter is still in custody but has been transferred to court for this hearing.

The four, all of whom were laid off from the police, face up to 40 years in prison.

In a document sent after the hearing, counsel for Alexander Kueng said that his client intended to plead “not guilty” and argued that he had used “reasonable use of force” to defend himself. The strategies of the other accused have not yet been released.

On May 25, the four agents wanted to arrest George Floyd suspected of having attempted to sell a counterfeit 20 dollar bill in a Minneapolis store. The man in his forties, handcuffed, was pressed to the ground and Constable Derek Chauvin applied his knee to his neck to keep him there.

“I can’t breathe,” pleaded George Floyd several times before he lost consciousness. Despite passers-by, Derek Chauvin continued to apply pressure for nearly eight minutes, according to the indictment.