Expert witness says Derek Chauvin was justified in pinning down George Floyd Published 2 hours ago
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Print article MINNEAPOLIS Former Officer Derek Chauvin was justified in pinning George Floyd to the ground because he kept struggling, a use-of-force expert testified for the defense Tuesday, contradicting a parade of authorities from both inside and outside the Minneapolis Police Department. Taking the stand at Chauvin’s murder trial, Barry Brodd, a former Santa Rosa, California, officer, stoutly defended Chauvin’s actions, even as a prosecutor pounded away at the witness, banging the lectern at one point during cross-examination and growing incredulous when Brodd suggested Floyd was struggling because he wasn’t “resting comfortably” on the pavement.
The first day of defense testimony in the trial of Derek Chauvin featured at least one reluctant witness and aggressive cross-examinations.
In this screen grab from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, speaks as defendant, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, right, listens, Tuesday at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. (Court TV, via AP, Pool)
MINNEAPOLIS (CN) The murder trial of Derek Chauvin moved on to the former police officer’s defense Tuesday morning as attorney Eric Nelson called a rapid-fire series of witnesses, including an use-of-force expert, a woman who was in a car with Floyd before his arrest, and the only police officer at the scene of George Floyd’s deadly arrest who is not facing charges for his death.
Fred de Sam Lazaro:
Frustration over the city s handling was felt at a vigil for Wright last night, marked by emotional moments.
Hundreds then took to the streets for a new round of protests outside the police station. Lines of officers in riot gear kept watch as anger built through the night, hours past curfew.
Protester:
You just killed Daunte Wright. If I make a mistake, are you all going to kill me too?
Fred de Sam Lazaro:
Looters broke into and vandalized a Dollar Tree nearby, while others set off fireworks outside. Police began firing flashbang grenades and tear gas to disperse them. The Minnesota State Patrol said about 40 people were arrested.
Did you say resting comfortably ? Schleicher asked.
Brodd: Or laying comfortably.
Brodd: Yes.
Schleicher went on to say that Floyd was moving, but it was because he was struggling to breathe by shoving his shoulder into the pavement.
The prosecutor hammered away at Brodd, saying a reasonable officer in Chauvin s position with his knee on Floyd s neck would have known that Floyd stopped resisting, that another officer told him he couldn t find a pulse, and that others had said Floyd had passed out and was no longer breathing. And the defendant s position is, and was, and remains, as we see here at this moment, in this time, in this clip on top of Mr. Floyd on the street. Isn t that right? Schleicher asked, as he banged his hand on the podium repeatedly.