Derek Chauvin’s Defense Argues George Floyd Died From Overdose

Photo credit: Scott Olson / Getty

Derek Chauvin’s defense is arguing that George Floyd didn’t die from the ex-Minneapolis officer kneeling on his neck.

Eric Nelson, the defense attorney and the prosecuting attorney Jerry Blackwell had time to share their opening remarks during trial Monday, where Chauvin was charged not only with second-degree murder but third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter as well.

Derek Chauvin’s trial for the killing of #GeorgeFloyd begins today with opening statements.

▪️ Charges: 2nd-, 3rd-degree murder, 2nd-degree manslaughter
▪️ Jury: 9 of 15 are white
▪️ Timeline: expected to take 4 weeks
▪️ Courthouse: surrounded by concrete barriers, razor wire pic.twitter.com/SS8sIDTIgX

— AJ+ (@ajplus) March 29, 2021

The defense alleged that Floyd, who was unarmed died of cardiac arrhythmia, coronary disease and hypertension. In is argument, he claimed that toxicology tests were revealed that showed both methamphetamine and fentanyl in Floyd’s system.

Jena Scurry, a 911 dispatcher in Minneapolis, testified that she called a police sergeant after she watched officers pin George Floyd to the ground live on a surveillance camera:

“My instincts were telling me that something wasn’t right.” pic.twitter.com/OJJ3F6zmux

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 29, 2021

“Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over his 19-year career,” Nelson said. “The use of force is not attractive, but it is a necessary part of policing.”

George Floyd’s family and their attorneys knelt at the courthouse for 8 minutes 46 seconds to mark his death ahead of the start of Derek Chauvin’s trialhttps://t.co/S4k0NHznLD pic.twitter.com/Aeuf9TfVVU

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) March 29, 2021

What are your thoughts and concerns about the trial?