A cardiologist testified in Derek Chauvin’s trial that George Floyd had a strong heart, weakening the defense’s argument that heart conditions played the primary role in Floyd’s death.
What We Know:
- Dr. Johnathan Rich works as a heart expert at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Rich testified on Monday that he saw “no evidence” that Floyd died due to a preexisting heart condition. Both methamphetamine and fentanyl were present in Floyd’s system at the time of his death.
“I can state with a high degree of medical certainty that George Floyd did not die from a primary cardiac event and he did not die from a drug overdose,” said Rich.
- Rich went on to say the primary reason for his death was the low oxygen levels caused by Chauvin’s decision to restrain Floyd by kneeling upon his neck. “Floyd died from a cardiopulmonary arrest,” Rich stated. He also believes there were many moments when the officers present could’ve said Floyd’s life.
- Chauvin’s attorney Eric Nelson has argued that the drugs present in Floyd’s system lead to his death and not Chavin’s actions. But Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo testified that all officers receive basic first aid training. This includes how to administer Narcan, a drug used to reverse the effects of an overdose. He stated that none of the officers present attempted to perform first aid.
- Rather, Arradondo stated that Chauvin violated the department’s guidelines on restraint. He argued that Chauvin applied more than light to moderate force to Floyd’s neck and that officers are trained to de-escalate situations without doing so. He expressed his belief that once Floyd was motionless, Chauvin should’ve stopped. Chauvin had Floyd pinned to the ground for so long that a dispatcher thought her video had frozen.
The trial is expected to conclude later this week, with closing arguments slated for Monday. Chauvin is charged with second-degree manslaughter, as well as second and third-degree murder. If convicted of second-degree murder, Chauvin may face anywhere up to 15 years in prison.
