Trial delayed over possible new charge in George Floyd murder
The delay came as the judge awaits an appeals court decision on whether a new murder charge can be added
A US judge has delayed jury selection in the case of an ex-Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd, an unarmed black man, last May.
Derek Chauvin faces murder charges for kneeling on Floyd's neck for over seven minutes in a widely-viewed video that sparked protests worldwide, reports the BBC.
The delay came as the judge awaits an appeals court decision on whether a new murder charge can be added.
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Jury selection is expected to resume on Tuesday morning.
Chauvin is accused of second-degree unintentional murder and manslaughter in the 25 May death of Floyd. The maximum sentence he faces on that count is 40 years.
The less severe charge of third-degree murder was initially dismissed last year, but prosecutors have requested to reinstate it.
Legal experts say that adding a third-degree charge could make it easier for prosecutors to get a conviction.
Jury selection is expected to take about three weeks, with trial arguments due to begin on 29 March.
