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George Floyd case: key witness refuses to testify

2021-04-06T18:22:29.986Z


Shortly before his violent death, George Floyd was sitting in the car with an acquaintance. The witness did not want to speak in court. The background is a possible question about a drug deal in the vehicle.


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Commemoration at the crime scene: Floyd's death on May 25, 2020 caused outrage around the world

Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP

In the process of the death of George Floyd, several leading police officers have already testified - and in some cases seriously incriminated the defendant Derek Chauvin.

However, an important key witness has now refused to testify in court.

Morries Hall's attorney, who sat in the car with the 46-year-old before Floyd's death, told the Minneapolis court that her client wanted to exercise his right to refuse to give evidence because otherwise he could incriminate himself.

The reason is whether the man gave or sold drugs to Floyd.

The lawyer for the accused ex-police officer Derek Chauvin confirmed on Tuesday that he wanted to ask Hall the question.

As a result, Hall's attorney said that should an overdose be held as the cause of Floyd's death, there could be criminal prosecution for her client.

The US Constitution allows witnesses to refuse to testify if they could incriminate themselves.

Judge wants to make decision later

Judge Peter Cahill announced a decision at a later date.

He said at the same time that if Hall should be called as a witness, he could only be questioned on a very limited subject: Floyd's behavior before his death.

Hall itself was connected by video on Tuesday.

He is currently in custody on other allegations.

Floyd's death on May 25, 2020 caused outrage around the world and sparked unprecedented anti-racism protests in the United States.

The white police officer Chauvin held the 46-year-old's knee for more than nine minutes after he was arrested on charges of counterfeit money.

Floyd passed out and died.

Chauvin's attorney, Eric Nelson, argues that Floyd died as a result of an opioid overdose.

Accordingly, before the arrival of the police, he had swallowed two pills in the car in which he was sitting with Hall and a friend.

Floyd's former girlfriend testified at the trial that Hall had sold her and Floyd drugs in the past.

Police chief incriminates defendants heavily

The trial against Chauvin is being followed with great international attention.

The policeman, who was released after Floyd's death, is charged with second-degree murder, among other things.

In Germany this is roughly equivalent to manslaughter and can be punished with up to 40 years imprisonment.

On Monday, the Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo testified in court and incriminated the accused heavily.

With his actions against Floyd, Chauvin clearly violated the rules of the police authority.

A police instructor was questioned in court on Tuesday about the use of physical violence against those arrested.

In particular, it was about the question of when police officers are allowed to use different strangleholdings.

asc / dpa / Reuters

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-04-06

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