Derek Chauvin trial: the damning testimony of the head of the homicide division of the police

Called to testify by the prosecution, the head of criminal restraint qualifies as "totally unnecessary" the level of force that Derek Chauvin used against George Floyd.

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3 min

On the fifth day of Derek Chauvin's trial, the wall of silence within the police seemed to be breaking.

Two brigade leaders have already testified against their former colleague to denounce his use of force against George Floyd.

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With our correspondent in San Francisco

,

Eric de Salve

Chief of the criminal squad, Lieutenant Richard Zimmermann, a police officer for nearly 30 years including 25 in the large city in the north of the United States, is a veteran of the Minneapolis police force.

Called to testify by the prosecution, he describes as " 

totally unnecessary

 " the level of force that Derek Chauvin used against

George Floyd

.

Excessive force, he said, because deadly.

Placing him face down on the ground with one knee on his neck for so long is not justified."

I don't see any reason that could make the police feel in danger,

 ”explains the head of the criminal squad.

Indeed, once a suspect is handcuffed, " 

the risk of being injured decreases sharply,

 " he said.

Richard Zimmerman also explained that he was informed of the risks of leaving someone prone during continuing education.

You have to get out of it as quickly as possible, because that makes it harder to breathe

 ."

And, he insisted, “ 

when you handcuff someone, they are yours, their safety and health are your responsibility,

 ” even if an ambulance has been called.

Lieutenant Zimmermann is the second senior Minneapolis police officer to testify against Derek Chauvin.

His testimony concludes a testing week for the jurors, who were confronted by witnesses of the drama still upset and an avalanche of shocking videos.

The death of George Floyd was indeed filmed from all angles by surveillance cameras, by police pedestrian cameras and by the cell phones of passers-by.

A police chief expected at the bar 

Next week, another heavyweight is expected to take the stand, the head of the Minneapolis Police Department himself.

Medaria Arradondo is the first African American in this post, promoted after the death of Geroge Floyd, promising to reform this hated institution.

A police chief testifying in a murder case against one of his agents will be a first in the United States, a sign that the omerta within the American police force may be starting to crack.

The trial, which will resume Monday morning, is set to continue for two or three weeks and jurors are expected to deliver their verdict in late April or early May.

The three other police officers involved, Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, will be tried in August for "complicity in murder".

To read: Trial of Derek Chauvin: four witnesses recount the death of George Floyd

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