MINNEAPOLIS — The third week of testimony within the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, charged with homicide and manslaughter in George Floyd’s demise, begins Monday. The prosecution is anticipated to name its final witnesses this week, beginning with one other physician.
In courtroom Friday, the chief medical expert for Hennepin County emphasised that the top-line direct trigger of demise from his post-mortem of Floyd final May remained unchanged.
Dr. Andrew Baker said it’s still “cardiopulmonary arrest” because of Floyd being subdued, restrained and his neck compressed by legislation enforcement, including that Floyd’s drug consumption or underlying coronary heart points are “contributing causes.”
“It was my top line then. It would stay my top line now,” Baker stated of the legislation enforcement restraint. “I would still classify it as a homicide today.”
Where the trial stands: Last week, consultants and police officers testified for the prosecution about correct use of drive, and medical professionals testified about how Floyd died. Prosecutors additionally requested consultants to testify concerning the position of medication present in Floyd’s system, making an attempt to move off the protection’s argument that medication performed a key position in his demise.
The protection, in the meantime, has highlighted the impact meth and fentanyl could have on the center and lungs. The protection has additionally argued the gang of bystanders gathered close to the scene distracted and threatened the officers, stopping them from giving care to Floyd and meriting further drive.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree homicide, third-degree homicide and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s demise in police custody on May 25, 2020.
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2 medical consultants blame police restraint for George Floyd’s demise
On Friday, the chief medical expert for Hennepin County who performed an post-mortem on George Floyd reiterated to the jury what he wrote in his report final 12 months: Floyd’s demise was a murder brought on by his coronary heart and lungs stopping amid “law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression.”
Dr. Andrew Baker said Floyd had “very severe underlying heart disease” and that “the legislation enforcement subdual and neck compression is simply greater than Mr. Floyd may take by advantage of his coronary heart circumstances.”
The protection has argued that Floyd’s underlying coronary heart points and drug use contributed to his demise. During questioning from protection lawyer Eric Nelson, Baker stated he included coronary heart illness, the historical past of hypertension and the medication in his system on the demise certificates as a result of they performed a task in Floyd’s demise.
Baker stated he didn’t discover anatomical proof Floyd died by asphyxia, or low oxygen. But a former Hennepin County medical expert, who skilled Baker and testified earlier than him Friday, instructed the jury Floyd died from asphyxia as a result of officers’ restraint.
“This is not a sudden cardiac death,” stated Dr. Lindsey Thomas. “This is a death where both heart and lungs stop working. The point is it’s due to law enforcement subdual, restraint and compression.”
A family-commissioned autopsy released last year found Floyd’s death was a homicide caused by “asphyxiation from sustained stress.” The jurors haven’t heard about that report.
More from Friday:George Floyd died from low oxygen due to officers’ restraint, forensic pathologist says
What we know about Peter Cahill, the judge in the Derek Chauvin trial
In the five weeks he has presided over the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill has proceeded carefully, knowing every decision will be scrutinized by the lawyers before him, everyone watching the livestream and someday possibly an appeals court.
Cahill’s caution doesn’t come as a surprise to his colleagues who describe him as an extremely knowledgeable student of the law known for controlling his courtroom in a respectful manner.
Michael Brandt, a longtime Twin Cities criminal defense attorney who has appeared before Cahill, 62, many times, said based on other high-profile cases, he expected the trial to be delayed in the early stages. Delays, scheduling issues and appeals are a common part of the criminal justice system, particularly in a high-profile murder trial.
But Cahill set strict deadlines and stuck to his “comparatively inflexible timeline,” Brant stated.
While Cahill has kept the proceedings moving, not everything has gone to plan. Days before the start of jury selection, an appeals court ruled that he should not have thrown out a third-degree murder charge against Chauvin last fall. At the end of that week, the city approved a historic settlement for the Floyd family, news heard by several potential jurors which caused jury selection to grind to a halt.
Cahill has also had to combat security problems. He publicly reprimanded observers including the press and a witness’ public relations representative for breaking security rules in the barricaded courthouse.
“He has had a couple of curveballs thrown at him all through this factor,” Brandt said. “He dealt with that with some grace and aplomb.”
