This morning in a reeling Minneapolis, state prosecutors rested their murder case against Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd. I believe they would have rested yesterday afternoon. But the day’s last witness, another use-of-force expert, concluded his testimony at what would be the normal close of the trial day (around 5 p.m. Central time), so Judge Peter Cahill prudently adjourned. This gave prosecutors the night to consider whether there is anything more they’d like to add, and the defense time to think about how extensive its presentation should be — including the important question of whether Chauvin should testify.
Yesterday’s witnesses were impressive in their own right, but they did not add much, if anything. Doctor Jonathan Rich, one of the nation’s most prominent cardiologists and a professor at Northwestern’s medical school, reaffirmed last week’s convincing testimony of Dr. Martin Tobin, a renowned pulmonologist, that George Floyd died due to low oxygen. This condition was caused by his being restrained too long, with his arms cuffed behind him, and significant police bodyweight pressure applied to his back and the base of his neck. This gradually rendered Floyd’s lungs unable to supply his body’s needs, leading to cardiopulmonary arrest.
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