George Floyd, an African American resident of Minnesota who was killed after cop Derek Chauvin pressed his neck with his knee. He died due to homicide according to reports of two autopsies revealed on June 1. The first was done by the county medical examiner and then by two independent pathologists appointed by George Floyd’s family. However, the reports were different from each other, find out how.
George Floyd’s death has triggered national outrage, unrest, and protests both in and outside America. The officer who took law in his own hands has now been charged with 3rd-degree murder and 2nd-degree manslaughter.
Autopsies reports
A pathologist, Dr. Allecia Wilson, who conducted an independent autopsy stated that he died due to mechanical asphyxiation. Whereas the result released from Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office stated that it was “cardiopulmonary arrest law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression”.
It is evident that the act was a homicide. However, the office stated that it doesn’t legally determine murder or intent. A draft autopsy report stated that there were no physical reports of strangulation or diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia.
Independent autopsy reports were revealed by Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson. Baden was the chief medical examiner of NYC and was appointed for the post-mortem of Eric Garner in 2014. He was also an African American killed by an NYPD officer who used a banned chokehold while trying to arrest him.
Both the men were pleading to the officers that they’re couldn’t breathe before the video of their murder was all over the internet. “I can’t breathe” is now the rallying cry for people protesting against police brutality.
Both Floyd and Garner died due to the compression on their back and neck by a police officer. The act interfered with their flow of blood and restricted breathing. Ben Crump, the lawyer fighting for Floyd said that George needed breathe, a breath of air!
Details report of George Floyd’s death
According to Hennepin County medical examiner’s office, George Floyd had a cardiopulmonary arrest when he was being strangulated by the policeman. It also stated that the man had other physical conditions including hypertensive heart disease and arteriosclerotic. He also had fentanyl intoxication due to a recent methamphetamine usage. The office hadn’t previously reported findings of other toxicology reports.
Dr. Michael Baden said that more testing will reveal proof of a compressive pressure on the back and neck as the pressure would’ve been released when that not being applied. He also revealed several scrapes on the face that happened when he was pressed on the ground.
Dr. Baden said that there were underlying physical conditions that could have led to death as he was healthy. In the criminal complaint, the Hennepin County prosecutors said that the officer put his knee on Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. 2 minutes and 53 seconds was after the time when George Floyd was not responding. Crump stated that the death was a result of sustained pressure on the neck and back. He went onto say that what the officers did was the reason behind his death and not any underlying health condition. He also added that the man died on-spot and “the ambulance was his hearse”.
Lawyers take on the matter
Crump also said that the family recognizes “righteous anger” of angry protesters. They support people who are trying to bring a change. However, the violence is “unacceptable” to him. He encouraged people to “take a breath for justice, take a breath for peace, take a breath for our country, but more importantly, take a breath for George, since he didn’t get the opportunity to take a breath.”
Antonio Romanucci, another lawyer supporting Floyd’s family said that the three more policemen involved are equally responsible for the death. All of them have been sacked but there are still no strict charged against them. He said that the shameless officers had a chance to prevent the death and knew that restricting the airway can kill him. Floyd’s family has reported against those officers and for Derek Chauvin to go through 1st degree instead of 3rd degree for murder charges.
Antonio Romanucci blasted at the Minneapolis PD as they failed to train officers on chokeholds and restraints. He said that it was a violent display of an 8-minute long death. It is the lowest level of respect that a community should face. He lastly said that the weight of the Minneapolis police department was actually on George Floyd’s neck.
