NEW YORK (Dagbladet): Former police officer Derek Chauvin is charged with murder in Minneapolis after Floyd died during arrest in May last year. The case attracted fierce attention throughout the United States and the world and sparked huge demonstrations against police violence and racism.
On Friday, Hennepin County Medical Officer Andrew Baker testified in the case. He believes it was the police’s use of force that led to Floyd’s death, although he also had other underlying heart problems and used drugs.
Broke in court
Videos from the incident show how Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds.
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– Kill
In his report in May last year, Baker wrote that the death was a homicide. This means that he considers that the death was caused by another person. At the same time, it does not necessarily mean that Chauvin is guilty after the indictment.
– Yes, I will still classify it as a murder today, Baker said in court on Friday, according to CNN.
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He describes how he thinks Floyd died from the police’s use of force during the arrest. The particular pressure on his neck is said to have led to him not getting enough oxygen.
According to Baker, Floyd had high blood pressure and other underlying problems, such as an enlarged heart and two condensed arteries. This means, among other things, that he needs more oxygen. In addition, the adrenaline increases in an agitated situation, which in turn makes the heart beat faster. In addition, he had narcotic drugs in his body.
In court, Baker says all of this was a contributing but not triggering cause of Floyd’s loss of life.
Policeman escapes prosecution: – Extremely disappointed
– The police’s use of force
– In my opinion, the police’s use of force and the pressure on his neck was just more than what Floyd could stand considering the condition of his heart, Baker said in the courtroom.
Forensic scientists also said that he had deliberately avoided watching the videos of the arrest before examining Floyd.
New video shows the time before the arrest
– I did not want it to affect my research by doing it with preconceived notions that could send me in one direction or another, Baker says.
Other medical experts have earlier in the trial testified that Floyd died of oxygen deficiency because his breathing was obstructed when he was lying on his stomach with his hands handcuffed on his back, and Chauvin pressed a knee to his neck.
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