Minneapolis cop Chauvin charged in Floyd death makes first court appearance, bail set at $1.25 M

Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin charged in the death of George Floyd made his first court appearance Monday.

Chauvin made the Hennepin County court appearance remotely through video. His bail is set at $1.25 million, though the bail is only $1 million if he meets certain requirements, some of which include avoiding any contact with family of George Floyd and turning over firearms.

Derek Chauvin, who was fired from the police department, is charged with second-degree murder without intent, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death on Memorial Day. Chauvin was filmed with his knee on Floyd's neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds as the man groaned and gasped for breath. 

If convicted, Chauvin faces up to 40 years behind bars. Initially he was charged with third-degree murder, but the charges were increased last week by the Minnesota's attorney general office. 

The three other officers on the scene with Chauvin have been charged with aiding and abetting a murder. 

Chauvin's court appearance coincided with a public viewing of Floyd's casket in Houston this afternoon and came one day after nine members of the Minneapolis City Council pledged to disband the city's police department. 

Chauvin is being defended by Eric Nelson of the Halberg Criminal Defense firm, which is Minnesota's largest firm that does exclusively criminal defense work.

Floyd's death sparked two weeks of national protests and some riots, objecting to police brutality and systemic racism within police departments.