George Floyd dies in Minneapolis: official autopsy finds homicide

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George Floyd died "by homicide" after making a "cardiac arrest" because of the pressure exerted on his neck by the police, said on Monday June 1 the official forensic scientist in charge of his autopsy.

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George Floyd is "  dead by homicide  ". "  The cause of his death is asphyxiation  ." The conclusions of the medical examiner in charge of the official autopsy seem to be final. The 46-year-old African American was also drugged with fentanyl, a potent opiate, the Hennepin County medical examiner added in a statement.

Just last week, the same forensic doctor had nevertheless declared that he had found no physical evidence that would support a diagnosis of asphixia or strangulation. But since then, George Floyd's family has asked two independent doctors to conduct a new autopsy, and their findings, released hours before the official autopsy, are overwhelming.

"Asphyxiation by prolonged pressure"

"  Independent doctors who conducted an autopsy on George Floyd on Sunday concluded that the death was the result of prolonged pressure asphyxia  ," said family lawyer Ben Crump. This prolonged pressure "  on his neck cut off the blood flow to his brain and the pressure on his back hampered his ability to inflate his lungs,  " he said.

"  The evidence supports asphyxiation as the cause of death and homicide as a circumstance of death,  " Allecia Wilson, a forensic scientist at the University of Michigan, who was able to examine the body of a woman, said at a press conference. the victim.

George Floyd died on May 25 in Minneapolis after a white cop plastered his knee on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, according to the elements of the criminal complaint against the officer involved. Forensic scientists from Hennepin County, where the city of Minneapolis is located, had determined that there was "no  physical evidence supporting a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation  ."

New York curfew

The death of George Floyd sparked violent protests in Minneapolis before anger spread across the United States. Several cities have in particular had to call on the National Guard to try to restore calm and have recourse to curfews.

New York City will in turn be placed under curfew as of Monday, June 1, announced Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo. "  I spoke to (New York) governor Andrew Cuomo and for everyone's safety, we have decided to put in place a curfew for New York City this evening : it will come into effect at 11:00 p.m. and will be lifted at 5 am,  "said the mayor of the American economic capital in a tweet, following in the footsteps of some 40 other cities that have already taken this measure.

New Yorkers: I've spoken with @NYGovCuomo and for everyone's safety we have decided to implement a citywide curfew in New York City tonight. It will take effect at 11pm and be lifted at 5am tomorrow morning.

(With AFP)

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