George Floyd: First Witness for Police Officer Derek Chauvin’s Defense Appears

The trial for the death of the African-American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer entered a new stage on Tuesday with the appearance of the first defense witness.

After two weeks devoted to the presentation of the prosecution, the lawyer of the ex-police Derek Chauvin questioned Scott Creighton, a retired agent who in 2019 arrested George Floyd.

Then he called Michelle Moseng, a paramedic who attended to Floyd at the time because he had used drugs.

Chauvin, who was discharged from the police, faces charges of murder and manslaughter after having immobilized George Floyd kneeling on his neck during his arrest for allegedly paying with a fake bill.

The defense of the ex-agent argues that in the death of George Floyd the fentanyl found in his blood and other health factors played a role.

Judge Peter Cahill warned Tuesday that the testimonies will only take into account the effects that opioids had on the health of Floyd and that they cannot be used as “evidence about your personality”.

During their shift, the prosecution called more than 40 witnesses, including doctors, police and ex-police officers and witnesses to the arrest of George Floyd.