Derek Chauvin trial: expert witness says police had to stop violence as soon as George Floyd was inclined – live | US news

Under cross-examination, Stiger is asked to talk about the ‘inherent risk’ that police officers face when responding to calls, which characterized Nelson – the defense attorney, as the ‘nature of policing’.

Recall Stiger has already testified that Chauvin’s prolonged use of knee-to-neck self-control was an unreasonable use of force. He also said the crowd of spectators watching George Floyd’s arrest was not a significant threat to officers.

But Nelson is clearly trying to introduce an element of uncertainty by going to the Supreme Court ruling Graham vs Connor giving much guidance on the use of violent policies in the police.

The ruling found that an ‘objective standard of reasonableness’ should apply to the use of police officers. Nelson tries to argue that objective reasonableness can only be determined at the moment that violence is used and that a combination of factors determines what is reasonable.

Once again, it’s worth repeating here that Chauvin kept his knee to Floyd’s neck nine minutes and 29 seconds, which prosecutors and many witnesses, including Stiger, said were out of proportion and deadly.

Stiger, an outside expert brought in by the prosecutor, told the jury that the police involved in George Floyd’s confinement should have stopped using force at the time he was inclined and stopped to resist.

“No force should have been used once he was in that position,” Steiger told the jury under direct investigation.

This is a repeat of what other members of the Minneapolis Police Department have already told the jury, but the fact that it is now being said by an outside expert gives this argument even more weight.

Steiger says at the moment, Floyd is being teased by officials, including Chauvin,He did not try to evade. He did not try to resist. ”

He says officers should have considered the fatal risk blvisionary asphyxia.

Stiger has completed his direct investigation, and will now be under cross-examination by Eric Nelson, Chauvin’s defender.

We’re up and running again and Sgt Stiger resumed his testimony.

From the outset, prosecutors have asked Stiger to explain how long he has understood Chauvin Floyd has been placed in a knee-to-neck restraint.

He reiterates the critical time frame that has been mentioned so many times in this trial: nine minutes and 29 seconds. This is the total time Chauvin used to describe prosecutors as deadly and unreasonable power against George Floyd, who was unarmed.

Prosecutors are being asked by prosecutors whether the use of force should be reasonable at all times.

‘Yes.’ He replied.

Stiger is now being asked to examine a number of photos showing different moments during the arrest. He points out that Chauvin’s knee on Floyd’s neck and the use of pain on Floyd’s hands and arms while leaning and handcuffed.

We expect the trial to resume within the next ten minutes.

Before things started again, I thought I would share a profile interview I wrote last month with the Vice President of the Minneapolis City Council, Andrea Jenkins.

Jenkins was one of the most powerful voices in the community in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, and I spoke to her at length about how the city was preparing for this important trial.

She told me about Zoom:

“It [the murder trial] going to be traumatic. We want such a peaceful situation as we can, and there really need to be resources that people can turn to when there are challenges. ‘

She also talked about regular contact with members of George Floyd’s family.

“They are really more concerned about justice,” she told me. “They want to see justice and want to make sure that George Floyd’s name is honored for the role that his legacy plays in social justice.”

Jenkins is also America’s first black openly transgender woman elected to public office and she shared a few more details about her childhood and appointed her to office.

You can read the full profile interview here:

Good morning and welcome to the ongoing live coverage and analysis of the Guardian from the Derek Chauvin murder trial.

Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer who is white, is facing three criminal charges in connection with the arrest of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man whose death caused a worldwide scandal over racism . The most serious of these is second-degree murder, which has imposed a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

The trial is an unprecedented moment in the history of Minnesota’s criminal law, as proceedings are being broadcast live due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We have seen a large number of witnesses testify for the prosecution, including senior figures in the Minneapolis Police Department, a variety of eyewitnesses, and professional medical staff.

Yesterday, the state called its first expert witness, Ao Jody Stiger, a 28-year-old veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. Like others with expert knowledge of the police’s violent use, Stiger told the court he believes Chauvin’s prolonged use of knee – to – neck self-control is excessive violence.

“My opinion was that violence was excessive,” Stiger testified, telling the court he reviewed the department’s use of violent police and video recordings of George Floyd’s arrest.

Sgt Stiger is expected to continue testifying when court resumes CT this morning at 9 p.m.

My colleague Chris McGreal has so far covered every day of the trial, and after yesterday’s testimony he again submitted a report.

We will continue to give you the key lines from evidence as well as deeper analysis.