The teenager who filmed the video of George Floyd’s death and a lifeguard who the police did not allow to intervene to assist him gave heartbreaking testimonies about the tragic events that sparked a global protest against racism.
Darnella, who now has 18 years, she was one of four young witnesses who took the stand during the second day of the trial against former police officer Derek Chauvin, accused of murder .
He said that when he saw Floyd “begging for his life” he compared him with his father, brother, cousins and uncles “because all of them they are black ”. He added that “I keep apologizing” (to Floyd) for “not having done more.”
On the other hand, Genevieve Hansen, a lifeguard for the fire brigade, declared that the police did not allowed to provide medical assistance that could have saved Floyd’s life.
Issues of racial inequality and police practices are at the center of this case .
On Monday, the session that opened the trial heard how Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes when he arrested him in Minneapolis, in May of 1200. The prosecution affirms that this was a “main cause” of his death.
Defense attorneys have indicated that they will argue that George Floyd, of 46 years, died of an overdose. Derek Chauvin, from 45 years, denies the charges of murder and homicide .
The other three policemen who were Present -Tou Thao, J Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane- will be tried later this year.
What was heard on the second day of the trial?
Four young women, who in at the time of the incident they were less than 18 years, they gave testimony in court, but the cameras were turned off so that the jury could not see them and only n identified by their first names.
Darnella , which then had 17 years old, she was walking to the Cup Foods store with her 9-year-old cousin when they came across the arrest on the street.
He stated that he started filming with his mobile because “I saw a terrified man, begging for his life. That was not right – he was suffering. ”
He described how he heard George Floyd“ saying ‘I can’t breathe’. He was terrified, calling for his mother. ”
Darnella said that witnessing her death changed her life .
“When I look at George Floyd I see my dad, I see my brother, my cousins, my uncles – because they are all black,” he said between tears. “And I see how I could have been one of them.”
“I keep asking to apologize to George Floyd for not having done more”.
Her young cousin also testified and said that she felt “sad and somewhat angry” at what she saw. “It sounded like she was in pain.”
Two friends, Alissa, from 17, and Kalen, from 17, had driven to the store when they came across the arrest. They both described feeling powerless upon seeing Floyd’s last moments before he was “just lying there, no longer fighting or resisting.”
Tense exchange
The last witness of the day was Genevieve Hansen, a first aider from the fire department who was not on duty that day. She explained that the police did not allow her to provide medical assistance that could have saved Floyd’s life.
She expressed how she expected that Monday 25 May out One calm day, when she heard a woman yelling that the police were killing a black man who was handcuffed and face down on the street.
Trained in medical emergencies, Hansen described how approached the policemen who were forcing Floyd to the ground and identified himself as a lifeguard .
In a video that was shown in court, Hansen is seen demanding to the police to take his pulse.
“He was not moving,” he said. “The first thing that worried me was his face that was flattened against the floor. Swollen It seemed to me that it was swollen. ”
Her voice began to tremble when she described the helplessness she felt at not being allowed by the police to provide assistance.
The tension increased when the defense attorney questioned her, questioning her paramedical capabilities .
When Hansen responded harshly, Judge Peter Cahill called her attention.
“Blood Key”
Another witness, Donald Williams II, who is trained in mixed martial arts, was questioned for over an hour by prosecutors and the defense on Monday and a second time on Tuesday.
Williams detailed how Chauvin used a dangerous technique called “blood lock” and that he was moving his knee from side to side to apply more pressure on the neck o and Floyd’s back.
He rejected the defense’s suggestion that his and other bystanders’ interactions with the police had been threatening to the uniformed
In his presentation of the case on Monday, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell told jurors that Chauvin had “betrayed his insignia” by kneeling on Floyd’s neck and using “excessive and unacceptable force” to stop him.
While Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, argued that the case was about evidence, not about “a political or social cause.” He indicated that Floyd had ingested drugs at the time of his arrest “in an attempt to hide them from the police,” and suggested that this contributed to his death.
During the process, Chauvin has remained silent but remained attentive, constantly taking notes on the evidence you hear.
Why is this case so momentous?
The video Darnella took of Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck was played around the world and sparked a massive protest and settling of scores about racism in America.
For many, Floyd’s death in police custody became a graphic symbol of police brutality -particularly against people of color- and generated global demonstrations demanding racial justice.
- Pain and anger shake some 50 US cities following George Floyd’s death in police custody
Despite the worldwide claim, however, this case is not easy. In the United States, there are very few times that a police officer is convicted of a death that occurs while on duty, if at all they are charged.
The verdict in this case will be widely interpreted as an indication of how the US legal system addresses deaths that occur while in police custody.
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