Prosecutors want joint trial for ex-police officers over death of George Floyd

In this courtroom sketch, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, centre, sits beside his defence lawyer (Cedric Hohnstadt/AP)

Prosecutors in the case of four former Minneapolis officers charged in the death of George Floyd 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 Mr Floyd’s family.

But defence lawyers have argued for separate trials, saying they would likely offer “antagonistic” defences and the evidence against one officer could negatively impact another.