Derek Chauvin trial: George Floyd's brother gives 'spark of life' testimony
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The state called some of its final witnesses Monday in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of George Floyd. The trial is being broadcast live, gavel to gavel, on FOX 9 and streaming live at fox9.com/live.
Court resumed with a motions hearing, during which defense attorney Eric Nelson requested an immediate sequestration of the jury following the deadly police shooting of a Black man in Brooklyn Center on Sunday. Nelson said one of the jurors lives in Brooklyn Center and several others have connections to the city. He worried about the influence of the police shooting and subsequent unrest on the jury’s willingness to acquit Chauvin.
Trial Judge Peter Cahill denied the motion, saying "this is a totally different case."
Here are the witnesses who testified Monday:
- Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and current professor at the University of South Carolina who specializes in policing issues and use of force. He testified there was no threat from bystanders gathered around the scene of Floyd's deadly arrest outside Cup Foods.
- Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, gave "spark of life" testimony, which lets the jury hear more about the victim in a case. Philonise told the jury about his brother's special bond with their mother and prosecutors displayed several photos of George through the years. The defense did not cross examine him.
- Dr. Jonathan Rich, a Chicago area cardiologist. He testified that Floyd died of a cardiopulmonary arrest caused by low oxygen levels, which were "induced by the prone restraint and positional asphyxia he was subjected to." He said he did not see any signs or symptoms Floyd died from an opioid overdose.
After the state is finished calling their witnesses they will rest their case, handing things over to the defense to start calling witnesses.
Judge Cahill told the jurors he expects the defense will start presenting their case on Tuesday and could wrap up by Thursday. He plans to have closing arguments next Monday, April 19, after which the jury will get the case and be sequestered until they reach a verdict.
Chauvin is charged with third-degree murder, second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death last May.
Philonise Floyd gives 'spark of life' testimony
The state called Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, to the stand Monday afternoon to give what is called "spark of life" testimony, which lets the jury hear more about the victim in a case.
During his 10-minute-long testimony, Philonise testified about growing up with his brother in Houston, Texas, George’s love of sports and how he was a leader in their house.
Philonise also told the jury about George’s special bond with their mother, describing it as "one of a kind."
George and Philonise’s mother died in May 2018, two years before George’s deadly arrest. In the widely-seen bystander video, George could be heard crying out for his mother as Chauvin and the other officers held him down.
Philonise said George took their mother’s death the hardest out of all their siblings.
A photo of George Floyd and his mother shown in court during Philonise Floyd's "spark of life" testimony.
"It was just difficult because I don’t know who can take that, when you watch your mother, somebody who loves you and cherishes you and nourishes you your entire life and then they have to leave you," he said. "We all have to go through it but it’s difficult and George, he was just in pain the entire time."
While Philonise testified, prosecutors showed the jury several photos of Floyd, including ones with his mother and his 7-year-old daughter, Gianna.
A photo of George Floyd and his now 7-year-old daughter Gianna shown in court on Monday, April 12.
The defense did not cross-examine him.
Cardiologist says George Floyd's death was 'absolutely preventable'
Dr. Jonathan Rich, a Chicago area cardiologist, testified Monday that George Floyd’s death was "absolutely preventable."
Rich said in medical opinion, Floyd died from a cardiopulmonary arrest caused by low oxygen levels—an opinion several other medical experts also shared on the stand.
"Mr. George Floyd died from a cardiopulmonary arrest. It was caused by low oxygen levels, and those low oxygen levels were induced by the prone restraint and positional asphyxia he was subjected to," Rich said.
Rich said he considered other causes of death, but he could state "with a high degree of medical certainty that George Floyd did not die from a primary cardiac event and he did not die from a drug overdose."
Rich told the jury he saw no signs that Floyd died of a fentanyl overdose, and that Floyd’s frequent use of opioids may have led to him developing a high tolerance.
"I kind of saw all the opposite with Mr. Floyd," the doctor said. "I saw that he was alert. He was awake. He was conversant. He was walking. And yet, according to the toxicology report, he had this degree of fentanyl in his system. So just looking at the clinical story, I didn’t see any signs or symptoms of a fentanyl overdose."
During cross-examination, defense attorney Eric Nelson pressed Rich on whether those other factors could have caused Floyd’s death.
"Had he not been restrained in the way in which he was, I think he would have survived that day. I think he would have gone home or wherever he was going to go had he not been subjected to the prone and positional restraint that he was."
Nelson: "So in other words, if he had gotten in the squad car, he’d be alive?"
Rich: "I think my answer remains the same. Anything other than that scenario he was subjected to, I have no reason to think from a medical perspective that he would not have survived that day."
Rich testified that he believes if the officers had repositioned Floyd, turning him on his side in a recovery position and allowing him to expand his lungs and get carbon dioxide, it would have saved his life. He said officers should have started CPR once they realized he had no pulse.
TIMELINE: George Floyd's death to Derek Chauvin's trial
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