The defense team in the Derek Chauvin murder trial on Monday told the jury that George Floyd died from drugs and not by the actions of Chauvin as alleged.
Chauvin’s lead attorney, Eric Nelson, said in his opening statement that the videos forming the heart of the prosecutions’ case showed the former officer followed his police training.
He stated that employees from the market observed Floyd and believed he was under the influence of something.
Nelson raised the issue of Floyd allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $20b.
Nelson disclosed that when police got the call from someone inside the market, they said Floyd appeared “drunk.”
He told the jury when Floyd was inside a car after leaving the market he had fallen asleep, again suggesting he was under the influence.
The lead attorney also stressed that when Floyd was confronted by cops, he “put drugs in his mouth” to conceal them, TMZ reports.
According to him, when an autopsy was performed they found a “speedball” in his system, which includes meth and fentanyl.
Nelson stated that Floyd had incredible strength as he resisted three officers.
The video shows the car rocking back and forth, indicating there was such a fierce struggle, he said.
He noted Chauvin was 5’9″ and 140 lbs, while Floyd dwarfed him at 6’3″ and 240 lbs, thereby suggesting the force Chauvin used was justified.
In his statement, he claimed that Floyd had heart issues that were fatally exacerbated by drug intake.
He also said the growing crowd of horrified onlookers actually exacerbated the situation by hurling names at Chauvin and the other cops.
