Chauvin’s defense lawyers played audio of George Floyd allegedly saying “I ate too many drugs,” while being detained.
The video clip was presented during cross-examination of Los Angeles Police Sgt. Jody Stiger, a paid witness for the state, who claims that “no force should have been used” on Floyd.
Video below:
Nelson just played a portion of the body camera video and asked "does it sound like he said 'I ate too many drugs?'"
Stiger said he couldn't make it out. Here I clipped that part of the video. pic.twitter.com/luMybVw50l
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) April 7, 2021
Here is the clipped section of the video — from Kueng and Lane’s body camera videos — in which defense attorney Eric Nelson suggests George Floyd said “I ate too many drugs.”
Video below:
Here is the section of video — which i clipped from Kueng and Lane's body camera videos — in which defense attorney Eric Nelson suggests George Floyd said "I ate too many drugs." pic.twitter.com/jlMdDrD185
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) April 7, 2021
The prosecution finally decided to respond the video clip:
Finally — the prosecution is addressing the video clip.
They are insinuating that it's out of context because Reyerson didn't hear the officer conversation that occurred beforehand.
But not playing more of the tape.
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) April 7, 2021
The prosecution played more of the tape, and SA Reyerson said with more context, he actually heard George Floyd say: “I ain’t doing no drugs.”
Now the prosecution played more of the tape, and SA Reyerson said with more context, he actually heard George Floyd say: "I ain't doing no drugs." pic.twitter.com/rwozxNymkO
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) April 7, 2021
Defense attorney Eric J. Nelson countered that Floyd was saying “I can’t breathe,” while resisting being put into the cop car — before Chauvin’s knee was anywhere near him.
“If somebody is saying, ‘I can’t breathe,’ and they’re passing out and they’re not resisting, that’s one form of an analysis, right, because the actions of the suspect are consistent with the verbal utterances he’s making, right?” Nelson asked.
“Other times and in this particular case, when Mr. Floyd was initially saying that he couldn’t breathe, he was actively resisting arrest initially when he was in the back seat of the vehicle, right?” he continued.
Nelson went on to explain that the officers had to change tactics “when the futility of the three officers continuing their efforts forcibly to seat Floyd in the squad’s back seat became clear.”
