Categories: Global

Trial of Ex-Police Officer in George Floyd Killing Resumes

The second day of one of the most high-profile trials in recent US history- that of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd- has begun.

On Monday, a witness described seeing Floyd struggle for air and his eyes rolling back into his head, saying he saw Floyd “slowly fade away … like a fish in a bag.”

Donald Williams, a former wrestler who said he was trained in mixed martial arts including chokeholds, testified Monday that he thought Derek Chauvin used a shimmying motion several times to increase the pressure on Floyd. He said he yelled to the officer that he was cutting off Floyd’s blood supply.

Williams was among onlookers shouting at the Minneapolis police officer to get off Floyd last May, and will continue testifying Tuesday

Williams recalled that Floyd’s voice grew thicker as his breathing became more labored, and he eventually stopped moving.

“From there on he was lifeless,” Williams said. “He didn’t move, he didn’t speak, he didn’t have no life in him no more on his body movements.”

Williams was among the first prosecution witnesses as trial opened for Chauvin, 45, who is charged with murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death.

Prosecutors led off their case by playing part of the bystander video that captured Floyd’s arrest on May 25. Chauvin and three other officers were fired soon after the video touched off outrage and protest, sometimes violent, that spread from Minneapolis around the world.

Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell showed the jurors the footage at the earliest opportunity, during opening statements, after telling them that the number to remember was 9 minutes, 29 seconds — the amount of time Chauvin had Floyd pinned to the pavement last May.

The white officer “didn’t let up” even after a handcuffed Floyd said 27 times that he couldn’t breathe and went limp, Blackwell said.

“He put his knees upon his neck and his back, grinding and crushing him, until the very breath — no, ladies and gentlemen — until the very life was squeezed out of him,” the prosecutor said.

Fourteen jurors or alternates are hearing the case — eight of them white, six of them Black or multiracial, according to the court. Only 12 will deliberate; the judge has not said which two will be alternates.

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

Iran’s Supreme Leader Threatens ‘Crushing Response’ To US And Israeli Actions Amid Ongoing Tensions

Iran's Supreme Leader has warned the US and Israel of a "crushing response" following an…

3 hours ago

Kemi Badenoch Wins Conservative Leadership, Vows Party Renewal, A Return to Traditional Values

Kemi Badenoch has pledged to "renew" the Conservative Party and reclaim voters as she was…

8 hours ago

Peter Obi Criticises Court Ruling Halting Rivers State Funds, Calls for Reversal

Peter Obi has criticised the court ruling withholding funds to Rivers State, calling it disturbing…

14 hours ago

AGF Fagbemi Takes Over Prosecution of #EndBadGovernance Protesters Amidst Allegations of Treason

AGF Fagbemi has taken over the prosecution of 114 #EndBadGovernance protesters, addressing alleged treason and…

14 hours ago

NNPC, ONHYM Advance African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project Amid Regional Collaboration

NNPC and Morocco's ONHYM has advanced the $26 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, emphasising regional…

14 hours ago

TCN Restores Power Supply Through Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri Line

TCN has restored power on the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri line, fully operational again after vandalism halted service.

14 hours ago