During the first week of critical testimony in the murder trial of Derek Chavin—the former police officer who knelt on the neck of George Floyd, regrets. The police department’s senior-most officer, Zimmerman, called George Floyd’s death “totally unnecessary”. Derek now faces the murder trial with second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, and third-degree murder.
For the first time, jurors heard that Derek Chauvin had knelt on George Floyd for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell broke down the timings and said that during the first 4 minutes and 45 seconds, George Floyd had cried out for help. For the next 53 seconds, George had seizures, and in the last 3 minutes and 51 seconds, he was not responding. These details came to light from an analysis of the officer’s body camera. Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell also noted that 9-2-9 are the most important digits in this case.
However, Derek Chauvin pleaded not guilty during the murder trial to the charges filed against him. According to Chauvin’s attorney Eric Nelson, Chauvin was only following his police training. He argues that George Floyd died because of his drug use and pre-existing health issues.
According to Floyd’s girlfriend, Courtenay Rose, they were both addicted to opioids, which is a means of treating chronic pain. She said in March 2020 Floyd was hospitalized for consuming an overdose of opioids and that he started using it again in May 2020.
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