Derek Chauvin defends actions with George Floyd in video shown at trial

 

Derek Chauvin defended his actions to a bystander after holding George Floyd to the ground with his knee for about nine minutes; according to new video played Wednesday at the former Minneapolis police officer’s murder trial that for the first time presents his own words about the encounter.

In a clip from Mr. Chauvin’s body camera recorded shortly after Mr. Floyd had been taken away in an ambulance; Mr. Chauvin can be heard defending his actions to Charles McMillian, a witness to the incident outside Cup Foods in south Minneapolis.

“I don’t respect what you did,” Mr. McMillian, 61 years old, said in testimony Wednesday, relating what he told Mr. Chauvin at one point in their conversation, which can be hard to decipher from the video.

“That’s one person’s opinion. We’ve got to control this guy because he’s a sizable guy,” Mr. Chauvin said at another point, referring to the 6-foot-4-inch, 223-pound Mr. Floyd. “It looks like he was probably on something.”

The body-camera footage, which hadn’t been previously aired, amounts to a rare instance of Mr. Chauvin defending how he handled Mr. Floyd on May 25, 2020.

He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter, and his lawyer has blamed Mr. Floyd’s drug use and medical conditions for his death.

Paramedics say Floyd had no pulse when they arrived

Two paramedics have told a Minneapolis court that George Floyd had no pulse and did not appear to be breathing when they arrived at the scene.

Former police officer Derek Chauvin is accused of killing Mr Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest in May 2020.

Paramedic Seth Bravindar said he had to ask Mr Chauvin to get off Mr Floyd so that they could access the patient.

Earlier, the court heard emotional testimony from Mr Floyd’s girlfriend.

Courteney Ross described their first kiss, and their struggle with opioid addiction on the fourth day of Mr Chauvin’s trial.