Derek Chauvin found guilty on all counts in death of George Floyd
The former officer was found responsible for the May 2020 death of Floyd.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts in the death of George Floyd.
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Prosecutors want jury to ignore Floyd’s significant medical issues, defense says
When court resumed after a 30-minute break, Nelson continued his closing arguments, stating that Floyd’s death was actually a “multi-factorial” process and claiming that prosecutors want to ignore his significant medical issues.
Nelson said that, according to the state, Floyd’s coronary heart disease, hypertensive disease, use of drugs that acted further to constrict Floyd’s already diseased heart and adrenaline coursing through his body during the police confrontation were “not relevant.”
"They just want you to ignore significant medical issues that presented to Mr. Floyd," Nelson said. "And the failure of the state's experts to acknowledge any possibility, any possibility at all that any of these other factors in any way contributed to Mr. Floyd's death defies medical science and it defies common sense and reason."
Defense has resumed its closing arguments after the judge called for a lunch recess.
Defense attacks doctors who testified as witnesses for state
Nelson took down several of the doctors the prosecution brought on as witnesses, stating that they were incorrect in their testimonies.
Nelson criticized cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Rich, who concluded that Floyd had a strong heart despite a 90% narrowing of the right coronary artery, a 75% narrowing in the left anterior descending artery, enlarged heart and history of hypertension.
The testimonies of Rich and an additional four doctors fly "in the absolute face of reason and common sense," especially in the testimony that none of Floyd’s preexisting conditions contributed to his death, Nelson said.
"It’s astounding," he said.
State has a large burden of proof, defense says
Prosecutors have a laundry list of items to prove in order for Chauvin to be convicted, Nelson said.
The state’s burden of proof includes proving that Floyd’s heart disease, history of hypertension and toxicology levels played no role in his death, Nelson said.
The state must also convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Floyd was not experiencing excited delirium that contributed to his death and that the adrenaline produced as a result Floyd's physical resistance played no role, Nelson said.
Jury deliberated for 10.5 hours
The jury reached a verdict in the trial after deliberating for 4 hours on Monday and 6.5 hours on Tuesday.