Did George Floyd suffocate? Second autopsy shows new cause of death - the differences are crucial

Family commissions new autopsy after George Floyd's death: the results contradict the official version in crucial points. Has Floyd suffocated?

• Nationwide protests and riots have followed the death of an African American in the United States .
• The protesters are demanding justice for George Floyd and an end to racially motivated police violence .
• A report commissioned by the family on the cause of death is now turning the corner. All updates on the protests can be found here.

USA - The demonstrations that have been stirring the US for days call for an end to racially motivated police violence - and justice for George Floyd. The focus of anger is US President Donald Trump. Floyd died in Minneapolis on Monday last week after policeman Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes. Videos of the arrest showed how the person lying on the floor had said several times: "I cannot breathe." 

Immediately after his death, Chauvin and three of his colleagues were released from work, later only Chauvin was arrested. The charges included manslaughter . But that is now being questioned by the new autopsy .

USA - George Floyd's first autopsy: charge of homicide

There was an autopsy after George Floyd's death . The investigation of the coroner at the time, found no evidence that he suffocated or was strangled - but that would look into the publish fact video suggest. Forensic medicine - and with it the official autopsy and the basis of the indictment - saw it as proven that Floyd had health problems - a coronary artery disease and high blood pressure - and was under the influence of intoxicants. In connection with the detention during the arrest, there was death.

Floyd's family dismissed the results of this autopsy, stating, among other things, that Floyd had no illnesses. They ordered another forensic pathologist with a new autopsy .

BREAKING: Independent autopsy finds that George Floyd's death "was homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain."

Second Autopsy by George Floyd (USA): New Findings on the Real Cause of Death?

And this actually brought a completely different result: According to lawyer Ben Crump , " suffocation from persistent pressure " was found to be the cause of death. The independent coroner's autopsy revealed that pressure on Floyd's neck "shut off blood to the brain," while pressure on Floyd's back prevented "lung expansion."

This would have far-reaching consequences for the indictment - the accusation of manslaughter should then no longer be valid, the indictment should rather be murder . And the three other police officers involved in the crime, who had partly kneeled on their backs, are likely to face other consequences.

Even after the reasons for Floyd's arrest, shocking details became known *.

AFP / cat

* Merkur.de is part of the Germany-wide Ippen-Digital editors network.

Rubric list picture: © dpa