Advertisement

Updated April 19th, 2021 at 12:22 IST

Experts discuss George Floyd's cause of death

George Floyd died of a lack of oxygen from being pinned to the pavement with a knee on his neck, a medical expert testified at former Officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial, emphatically rejecting the defense theory that Floyd's drug use and underlying health problems were what killed him.

Experts discuss George Floyd's cause of death
AP | Image:self
Advertisement

George Floyd died of a lack of oxygen from being pinned to the pavement with a knee on his neck, a medical expert testified at former Officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial, emphatically rejecting the defense theory that Floyd's drug use and underlying health problems were what killed him.

Dr. Martin Tobin, a lung and critical care specialist at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and Loyola University's medical school in Illinois calculated that at times when Chauvin was in a near-vertical position, with his toes off the ground, half of Chauvin's body weight -- 91.5 pounds -- was directly on Floyd's neck.

Floyd was arrested outside a neighborhood market after being accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill.

Bystander video of Floyd crying that he couldn't breathe as onlookers yelled at Chauvin to get off him sparked protests and scattered violence around the U.S.

The chief medical examiner who ruled George Floyd's death a homicide also testified that Floyd's heart disease and drug use "played a role" in the death.

Dr. Andrew Baker, the Hennepin County medical examiner, took the stand at the murder trial of former Officer Derek Chauvin testified that the way police held him down and compressed his neck "was just more than Mr. Floyd could take," given the condition of his heart.

Under cross-examination, though, Baker agreed with Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson that Floyd's heart disease and drug use "played a role" in the death.

But on redirect, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell had him repeat his opinion as to what caused Floyd's death.

"So my opinion remains unchanged, it's what I put on the death certificate last June: That's cardiopulmonary arrest, complicating law enforcement, subdural restraint and neck compression. That was my top line. Then it would stay my top line now," Baker said.

Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter in Floyd's death May 25. Floyd was arrested outside a neighborhood market after being accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill.

(Image credit: AP)

Advertisement

Published April 19th, 2021 at 12:22 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo