A former colleague of Hennepin County Medical Examiner Andrew Baker testified in the Derek Chauvin trial Friday that George Floyd died due to asphyxia, or low oxygen.
Dr. Lindsey Thomas is a medical examiner of 37 years who in 2017 retired from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office. Thomas still works as forensic pathologist in other cities. Thomas agreed with Baker, who conducted Floyd’s autopsy, that subdual from law enforcement and neck compression were direct causes of Floyd’s death.
Baker also is expected to testify later Friday.
Chauvin is on trial for second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the May 25 death of Floyd, who died while Chauvin was restraining him during an arrest. This week marks the second week of testimony which has been heavily focused on medical evidence.
Thomas explained Floyd’s death certificate to the jury, which shows that the immediate causes of Floyd’s death were cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression. Other contributing factors listed were arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease, fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use.
Thomas said the other contributing factors of death aren’t direct causes of death, but are more important for data collection. They may have contributed to death, but are not the direct cause.
A medical examiner press release report of Floyd’s death was also shown to the jury, which lists Floyd’s manner of death as homicide. There are only five possible manners of death; natural, accident, suicide, homicide and undetermined.
Thomas said she watched body camera and bystander footage as well as surveillance video, and does not believe that Floyd was exhibiting signs of a drug overdose. She said the Cup Foods security footage in particular was helpful as it shows Floyd’s actions and behaviors before the officers arrived. She said if Floyd was overdosing from fentanyl, he would be acting sleepy, which was not the case.
“There’s no struggle,” she said of fentanyl overdoses.
She noted that she has also reviewed toxicology reports, and does not think the amount of meth found in Floyd’s system was enough to cause an overdose.
Thomas added that Floyd was under an immense amount of physiological stress while being restrained.
“This goes on for minute, after minute, after minute for nine minutes, where you are terrified and there’s no recovery,” she said.
MORE: Derek Chauvin trial: Watch live streaming video here
Photos of Floyd’s body were shown to the jury, but were not broadcasted on the livestream. Thomas described the scrapes and bruises that were on Floyd’s face, shoulder and hands, which Thomas said are consistent with what can be seen in videos of the arrest.
Thomas says Floyd moved his face, shoulder and hands in and effort to get into a position where he could breathe better while Chauvin knelt on him.
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Derek Chauvin trial: Former colleague of Hennepin County medical examiner agrees George Floyd died from low oxygen - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
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