The presentation of evidence could close today in the Minneapolis trial at which Derek Chauvin is charged with murder in the death of George Floyd last Memorial Day. The defense plans to call at least two expert witnesses, and the big question is whether they will turn out, like yesterday’s defense expert on police use of force, to be home runs . . . for the prosecution.
Chauvin’s defense is moving quickly, and I can’t imagine it will go much beyond today if the defendant does not testify. All indications are that he will not. From his opening statement, through the prosecution’s case, and so far in presenting the defense case, Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, has done nothing to signal that his client would take the witness stand. Usually by now there has been some sign — some bit of evidence or line of cross-examination that appears to be a laying of groundwork for the defendant eventually to explain his side of a disputed story. There has been none of that.
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