Derek Chauvin used a
disproportionate "
lethal force
" during the arrest of George Floyd, estimated Wednesday April 7 an expert testifying at the trial of the white policeman, accused of having killed the African-American forty-something.
Also read: Minneapolis Police Chief Overwhelms Officer Charged With Murdering George Floyd.
During the almost ten minutes he was immobilized, his neck below Derek Chauvin's knee, George Floyd "
was lying on his stomach, he was handcuffed, he did not try to escape or to resist
", explained Jody Stiger. , police officer in Los Angeles and specialist in the use of force in the police force.
According to this expert, the action of the ex-agent was disproportionate under the code of procedure of the police of Minneapolis.
"
A police officer can only use a level of force proportional to the severity of the crime or an individual's level of resistance to the police,
" he explained.
The expert admitted that George Floyd had "
actively resisted
" when the police tried to make him sit in the back of a police vehicle, on the grounds that he was claustrophobic.
“
At that time, the use of force was justified
” for him to obey the police, he said.
"
But, once he was on the ground on his stomach, he slowly stopped resisting and the former police officers should have stopped using force
."
Jody Stiger also suggested that Derek Chauvin abused force using a technique called "
obedience through pain,
" which involved twisting George Floyd's fingers and hand to keep him from moving while he was already handcuffed. and submitted.
Derek Chauvin, 45, is accused of killing George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis by holding his knee to his neck for more than nine minutes, a drama that has sparked a historic wave of anger against racism in the United States.
He pleads not guilty, claiming to have followed a procedure consistent with his training to subdue a recalcitrant suspect, while his lawyer assures that the black forty-something died of an overdose.
On Monday, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo overwhelmed his former agent, saying he had "
violated the rules
" and "
the values
" of the police during the stop.
Discussions are expected to continue for about two more weeks.
The verdict of the jurors in this extraordinary trial is not expected before the end of April.
