Lt. Johnny Mercil, a use-of-force expert who taught a use of force training class Chauvin attended, said the department did not train officers to use the knee-on-neck restraint.
Defense argues Floyd, crowd posed a threat to officers
On cross examination, lead defense attorney Eric Nelson solicited testimony from state witnesses to suggest officers were threatened and distracted by an angry mob of bystanders, which he argued made it too difficult for officers to render medical aid or de-escalate the situation any more than the officers did when they chose not to use a hobble restraint on Floyd.
Nelson asked several of the bystanders whether they were upset by what they saw that day, at times quoting vulgarities heard in the videos and pacing in the courtroom to make his point. On cross-examination of the paramedics, Nelson highlighted their decision to move Floyd away from the scene, away from the crowd, before they tried to revive him.