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1/ There is no need to get worked up about recent revelations about the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s autopsy report regarding George Floyd. Let me explain why you should not be overly concerned.
2/ The portion of the complaint that has people concerned reads: "The autopsy revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyuxia or strangulation. Mr. Floyd had underlying health considitions including coronary artery disease and
3/ hypertension heart disease." However, the complaint goes on to state: "The COMBINED EFFECTS OF MR. FLOYD BEING RESTRAINED BY THE POLICE, his underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in his system likely contributed to his death."
4/ Continuing, the complaint adds: "The defendent [Chauvin] had his knee on Mr. Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total. Two minutes and 53 seconds of this was AFTER MR. FLOYD was non-responsive. Police are trained
5/ that THIS TYPE OF RESTRAINT WITH A SUBJECT IN A PRONE POSITION IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS." [emphasis added]
So what does this mean in regards to obtaining a conviction against Chauvin and other potential defendants? As former FBI Agent Asha Rangappa explains,
So what does this mean in regards to obtaining a conviction against Chauvin and other potential defendants? As former FBI Agent Asha Rangappa explains,
6/ "There is a concept in tort law known as the 'eggshell plaintiff.' What that means is that even an extraordinary frailty on the part of an injured victim is not a valid affirmative defense to the negligence of the tortfeasor; they are still liable for the consequences."
7/ In lay terms, what she is saying is it doesn't matter that Mr. Floyd had a preexisting condition if Chauvin's actions were negligent/excessive.
Continuing, Rangappa explains that this legal concept is particularly valid when it comes to encounters between civilians and law
Continuing, Rangappa explains that this legal concept is particularly valid when it comes to encounters between civilians and law
8/ enforcement. "This concept ought to apply with even greater weight when you are looking at the use of force between armed police and a civilian. Unless the claim is that Floyd would have dropped dead on his own, absent any use of force,
9/ Chauvin’s actions were the proximate cause of his death."
10/ Speaking directly about the ME report, Eugene Gu, M.D. explains: "If George Floyd had underlying heart disease and hypertension, and if he was on a respiratory depressant drug, that would simply make him more vulnerable to a lack of air due to a knee to the neck.
11/ Hypoxic cardiac arrest would be especially more likely to happen in that scenario." Continuing he explains: "You don’t need to have evidence of trauma to the airway to believe that a knee to the neck killed this man. We all literally saw it." Directing his attention to
12/ the "bullsh*t" ME report, he concluded explaining: "[F]or a medical doctor to ignore the actual most important piece of evidence, the video, to cover up for the police is pure evil."
13/ Former federal prosecutor Joyce Alene weighed in on Dr. Gu's analysis, explaining: "'Potential intoxicants'... weren’t the cause of death. You can see it on the video. A jury can see it too. At a minimum
14/ this is reckless disregard for life which would sustain a Minnesota murder charge."
Ben Crump, an attorney for Mr. Floyd's family, weighed in stating: "We saw in the Eric Garner case, and so many other cases where they have people who work with the city workers come up with
Ben Crump, an attorney for Mr. Floyd's family, weighed in stating: "We saw in the Eric Garner case, and so many other cases where they have people who work with the city workers come up with
15/ things that are such an illusion -- he had asthma, he had a heart condition -- all these things that are irrelevant when they were living, breathing, walking, talking, just fine until the police accosted them."
