Judge in Derek Chauvin murder trial slams Maxine Waters, warns case 'could be overturned'

The judge presiding over the trial of Derek Chauvin, who is charged with George Floyd's murder, has warned recent comments by Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters could see the whole case overturned on appeal.

Ms Waters joined protesters in downtown Minneapolis, where the trial is being held, and said protesters should stay on the streets if the jury fails to convict Mr Chauvin.

“I hope we get a verdict that says, guilty, guilty, guilty,” she said.

“And if we don’t, we cannot go away. We’ve got to stay on the street.

“We get more active, we’ve got to get more confrontational. We’ve got to make sure that they know that we mean business.”

Defense attorneys for Mr Chauvin urged Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill to declare a mistrial.

Judge Cahill turned down the request but slammed the comments as "abhorrent" and may see any possible conviction overturned on appeal.

The jury has now been sent out and will start considering its verdict over Mr Floyd's death in the US city of Minneapolis last year.

Former police officer Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.

All three charges require the jury to conclude Chauvin's actions were a "substantial causal factor" in Mr Floyd's death and that his use of force was unreasonable.

Last May, video of Chauvin pinning Mr Floyd to the pavement, putting a knee on his neck for over nine minutes, sparked protests, riots and looting, and demonstrations across America and around the world.