Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker testified on Friday as the second week of the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin comes to a close.
Dr. Baker told the court that while Floyd’s health and drug use may have contributed to his death, it was police officers’ actions that were the direct causes.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Lindsey Thomas testified that Floyd did not die of a fentanyl overdose or a pre-existing heart condition. Floyd, a Black man, died in police custody on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin pinned his knee against Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. This Moment has been amended to correct that on Thursday forensic toxicologist Dr. Daniel Isenschmid said the methamphetamine concentration found in George Floyd post-mortem was below the level found in most DUI methamphetamine cases.
