Derek Chauvin trial: defense wants to prove overdose death for George Floyd
Special Agent James Reyerson interviewed as a witness in the trial of ex-policeman Derek Chauvin for the murder of Gorge Floyd, at Hennepin County Court in Minneapolis, April 7, 2021. AP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
On the eighth day of Derek Chauvin's trial for the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the defense tries to prove to jurors that it was not the ex-cop but the drugs that killed the African-American.
This Wednesday, April 7, Derek Chauvin's lawyer thinks he has scored points.
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With our correspondent in San Francisco,
Éric de Salve
How to interpret one of George Floyd's last pleas while he is handcuffed face down?
Does the African American tell the police that he has taken too many drugs?
Eric Nelson, Derek Chauvin's lawyer, plays and plays an almost inaudible video extract and asks this question to witness number 27.
On the second listen, Special Agent Reyerson in charge of the investigation ends up answering that yes, he does hear George Floyd say that he took too many drugs.
A small victory for the defense which does everything in this trial to convince the jury that
George Floyd
died of an overdose and not
suffocated
by Derek Chauvin.
But a short-lived victory.
Cross-examined by the prosecution a few minutes later, Witness number 27 changed his mind.
No, finally, he actually hears George Floyd say the exact opposite.
Determining sequence for the verdict
"
After seeing the full clip, what do you think George Floyd said?
Asks the prosecution.
"
Yes, I think Mr. Floyd is saying, 'I'm not doing drugs,'
" replies Witness 27. The prosecution goes on: "
So it's quite different from what you understood when you just saw a short excerpt?
"
"
Yes, sir
, "says the witness.
Far from being anecdotal, the sequence could actually determine the verdict.
Because it suffices for the defense to convince a single juror for Derek Chauvin to be acquitted.
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To read also: Derek Chauvin trial: the police chief overwhelms his former agent
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