Derek Chauvin, police officer on trial for the death of George Floyd, will now also face a murder charge after a Minnesota judge on Thursday added it to the list of charges against. 44-year-old police officer Chauvin is already facing charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with Floyd’s death, a black man who died after the officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis.

This comes after prosecutors had asked the Hennepin County judge hearing the case to reinstate a third-degree murder charge against Chauvin in the high-profile trial. Judge Peter Cahill agreed to reinstate the third-degree murder charge on Thursday. The second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison while third-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.

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Jury selection in the case began on Tuesday and five jurors have been selected for the panel so far. Twelve jurors and two alternates will hear the case.

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The US witnessed summer of protests after a video of Chauvin, who is white, kneeling on the neck of Floyd, went viral. It started Black Lives Matter movement in the US and other parts of the world.

Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force, has pleaded not guilty. Opening arguments in the trial are expected on March 29 with a verdict at the end of April.