A toxicologist testified Wednesday that Floyd died from an unintentional heart attack, drug use or an agitated state after he was pinned to the ground by officers in May 2020.
Dr. Vik Bhatta, an emergency doctor and toxicologist, and a professor at the University of Colorado, suburban Denver, supported the prosecution’s claim that Floyd died from Officer Derek Chauvin’s pressing down on the Black man’s neck while he pleaded “I cannot breathe.” Other experts have also supported the prosecution’s assertion that Floyd died as a result of Officer Chauvin’s failure to roll Floyd on his side as they were trained so that he could breathe freely.
killing. This triggered protests around the world and a reexamination on racism and police policing.
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson removed a juror from court Wednesday because his son was sick and chose an alternate. Concerned about COVID-19 Magnuson ordered six alternates to be selected instead of the two usual in order to ensure that none of the original 12 jurors were forced out. Three days of the trial were interrupted last week due to a positive test.
Bebarta stated that Floyd died from lack of oxygen to the brain and that his airway was closed. This was in line with Monday’s testimony from a lung specialist , who stated thatFloyd could be saved if officers had allowed him to breathe easier.
Bebarta stated that Floyd died from low levels of methamphetamine and fentanyl in his system. He also said that he did not die due to his high blood pressure and heart disease. According to him, Floyd was not seen intoxicated or having an overdose on surveillance video taken inside a convenience store prior to his death. He did not dispute the earlier testimony of a clerk that Floyd appeared high.
Bebarta stated, “He was awake and walking, communicating, and walking fast at times.”
Robert Paule, Thao’s attorney and Manda Sertich, the prosecutor, interrogated Thao about his excited delirium. In-custody deaths have been attributed to the disputed condition by medical examiners over the past decades. These cases were often caused by the patient becoming extremely agitated following a drug or mental episode.
Bebarta stated that Floyd didn’t display the symptoms usually associated with the condition such as high pain tolerance and superhuman strength or endurance. He estimated that he has seen more than 1,000 of these patients in his lifetime.
Bebarta said that he did not die of what might be called excited delirium.
Paule questioned Bebarta and he said that the medical community had difficulty defining the condition. Paule suggested that Bebarta’s ability recognize the condition may not be as good as Paule’s.
Also, previous testimony has shown that Chauvin, the most senior officer on scene, told his colleagues that Floyd became unresponsive and that they could not find a pulse to wait until an ambulance arrived. According to video footage and testimony, officers continued to restrain Floyd until the ambulance arrived.
Bebarta stated that he believed Floyd could have been revived if the officers had begun CPR after he lost his pulse. This would have been his best chance of survival.
According to American Heart Association guidelines, the doctor stated that “every minute they aren’t given lifesaving measures like CPR or chest compressions their chances of survival are 10% lower.”
Lane’s attorney Earl Gray cross-examined Bebarta and he acknowledged that he had seen videos showing Lane performing chest compressions. He also offered to accompany paramedics in the ambulance. The doctor also admitted that Lane was concerned about Floyd’s health and attempted to check Floyd’s pulse.
McKenzie Anderson, a scientist from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension crime laboratory who was responsible for the processing of Lane’s squad car as well as Floyd’s Mercedes SUV, took the stand later in the day. She said that pills and fragments of pills found in the car were positive for methamphetamine. One also tested positive for Floyd’s DNA, she said.
Anderson will be subject to cross-examination by defense attorneys on Thursday.
Kueng, who are Black, Lane, a white man, and Thao who are Hmong Americans were charged with willfully denying Floyd his constitutional rights, while they were acting under the authority of the government. According to the charges, Floyd died as a result of officers’ actions.
Chauvin, a white man, was convicted of murder and manslaughter last year in state court. He pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights offense in December.
In June, Lane, Kueng, and Thao will also be facing a separate state court on charges that they aid and abet murder and manslaughter.
