Actually -- the court docket just slide the start time of the motion hearing to 8:45.
Still waiting on court to begin. Some delays and off-record conversations apparently going on between attorneys and judge.
Court underway. Now the motion --
Nelson wants the entirety of the police body cameras submitted as evidence in the case. (The prosecution only played portions of Chauvin's and cut off the videos of the other three officers early)
Prosecutor Matthew Frank says the remainder of Chauvin's body camera contains hearsay comments -- and is not all relevant. That's why they object to the rest of videos being shown.
"What's clearly being attempted here" is Chauvin trying to get certain information in without having to testify, Frank argues.
Judge Cahill is allowing one unplayed clip, but not another unplayed clip of Chauvin's body camera.
One is relevant because shows Chauvin's demeanor and actions immediately following Floyd taken to hospital.
Another clip not relevant apparently mostly showed Lane and Kueng
Here is the Youtube link. Judge is addressing the jury off audio and video at the moment. But testimony will begin very soon.
It sounds like there was worry about "Juror misconduct" but after talking to them, Judge Cahill feels there was not misconduct and we can go forward.
We should find out more exactly what that was about when we get the first pool reporter note.
Nelson revealing Chief Arradondo, Commander Katie Blackwell and Sgt. Ker Yang from MPD will all testify today.
Nelson wants the judge to limit their testimony so they don't all get to opine that Chauvin's use of force was unnecessary.
Nelson objected last week to Sgt. Ploeger and Lt. Zimmerman being allowed to give those opinions.
Scheicher says Yang will testify about MPD's crisis intervention training given to all officers.
Judge Cahill says if Yang's testimony is a summary of training given -- that is fine -- but prosecution can't play videos and have Yang talk about how officers should have acted.
The sides are arguing over what kind of training materials can be introduced. Judge Cahill says the prosecution needs to be able to show Chauvin actually attended that training.
First witness of the day is HCMC ER Dr. Bradford Wankhede Langenfeld. He was the one who pronounced George Floyd dead after attempting resuscitation.
It sounds like the prosecution is going to try to get quite a bit out of Dr. Langenfeld. Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell said he is going to ask him about his take after viewing the Facebook video.
Blackwell is making of point to the jury through Dr. Langenfeld that Floyd's chance of survival was lower since the officers did not perform CPR.
Nelson objected - Cahill overruled.
Dr. Langenfeld testified that no one told him Floyd was suffering a suspected drug overdose or suspected heart attack.
Dr. Langenfield testifies that Floyd was in PEA Pulseless electrical activity -- which he says can suggest hypoxia -- low oxygen.
Langenfeld testifies that he didn't have reason to believe "excited delirium" existed in Floyd's case.
During the break we got some information on the strange issue with the jury this morning. The pool reporters say Judge Cahill appeared to show them a social media post and vaguely asked them about it -- but none of them seemed to know what it was.
Eric Nelson is cross-examining Dr. Langenfeld concerning possibilities of drugs causing the death. George Floyd was not given Narcan, etc.
Now @MinneapolisPD Chief Medaria Arradondo is testifying
So far, Chief Arradondo (who pronounced his first name Medaria "meh-DARE-uh" not "meh-DARE-ee-uh") has gone over all foundation and background of his history with MPD leading up to taking role as chief. Now he is beginning to talk about who leads training.
Chief Arradondo goes over MPD code of conduct that says to be courteous, respectful, polite and professional... as well as detention of a suspect to last no longer than needed.
Just filed in court -- Morries Hall -- who was in the car with George Floyd -- is granted permission to appear in court tomorrow in civilian clothes. Apparently he is currently in the Hennepin County Jail -- and asked permission to avoid wearing jail scrubs at the morning hearing
That hearing is scheduled for 830am -- and it is a motion to quash his subpoena to testify. Hall is pleading the fifth -- to avoid incriminating himself by testifying in the trial.
Here is the Youtube link for the afternoon session of testimony:
Back on the witness stand, Chief Arradondo said two officers saved a gunshot victim's life by applying a tourniquet a couple weeks ago.
Prosecutor Steve Schleicher is asking Chief Arradondo about use of force -- now going into neck restraints.
Finally --- getting to the day George Floyd died.
Chief Arradondo faces the jury and says he was got a call from a deputy chief -- was told Floyd might not make it -- and Arradondo called the BCA because they would need to investigate if it's a critical incident.
Chief Arradondo called Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and went to City Hall.
After he learned George Floyd died, Arradondo pulled up the city camera (called Milestone camera in this trial).
That video -- without any audio -- did not jump out at him.
Close to midnight -- a community member contacted Chief Arradondo and pointed him to the bystander video. Seeing and hearing that video -- and reviewing other videos -- did the officer follow de-escalation?
"Absolutely not. That action is not de-escalation..."
Chief Arradondo says it did "not appear that is light or moderate pressure" applied to George Floyd's neck, making the knee to the neck more force than is allowed in their taught knee restraint.
Chief Arradondo: "Once there was no longer any resistance, and clearly after Mr. Floyd was no longer responsive and even motionless. To continue to apply that level of force to a person proned out, handcuffed behind their back, that in no way shape or form is policy...."
Chief Arradondo ended with prosecution by saying Chauvin violated MPD policy.
Of course he's on trial for murder and manslaughter. Not for violating policy.
Now defense Attorney Eric Nelson is cross-examining Chief Arradondo.
Nelson starts out, like he did with Lt. Zimmerman, pointing out his current experiences are not working the streets.
Nelson: When was the last time you actually arrested a suspect?
Arradondo: It's been many years, sir.
Nelson now drilling down the objectively reasonableness standard -- that it applies to what the officer knows at the time. Meaning can't use factors learned later when reviewing the use of force by an officer when determining if it was reasonable.
Nelson: Is approaching a motor vehicle one of the most dangerous initiations of contact for an officer?
Chief Arradondo: "I don't have the exact statistics on it, it certainly is an encounter officers are more heightened."
Nelson draws out in cross-examination that two types of neck restraints were allowed within policy on May 25, 2020. And Arradondo acknowledges Chauvin used a neck restraint.
Then Arradondo says neck restraints were not allowed to be used for indefinite time periods.
Nelson ends his cross examination when he gets Chief Arradondo to acknowledge Chauvin's knee appeared to be on Floyd's shoulder blade - rather than neck - when seen from the perspective of Kueng's body camera.
Prosecution is doing redirect questioning now -- starting with having Chief Arradondo say it didn't appear at any earlier point that Chauvin's knee was on shoulder blade rather than neck.
"Camera perspective bias" -- and the example used by Nelson where the knee was in a different position based on the camera view -- I wonder that was a preview of part of what his use of force expert will testify about.
Now Commander Katie Blackwell is testifying. She is now the 5th Precinct Inspector (SW Minneapolis) but was Commander in charge of training on May 25, 2020.
Blackwell testifies that she knows Chauvin through work, and she at one point chose him to be a Field Training Officer.
Inspector Blackwell tells the jury it is important to turn handcuffed suspect in prone position onto their side, what is called the "recovery position" to aid with breathing.
Blackwell testifies that this is not a neck restraint as taught in MPD training.
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The Derek Chauvin trial will resume momentarily with national use of force expert Jody Stiger on the stand for the state. Court ended abruptly yesterday afternoon. Here is my thread for 4/7/21
Testimony in Derek Chauvin's trial will resume at 9:15, but first, at 8:30, there is a hearing regarding the witness Morries Hall, who was in the car with George Floyd when approached by officers. 4/6/21 thread
During the testimony of Courteney Ross, George Floyd's girlfriend, she testified that Hall sold Floyd drugs in the days leading up to his death. Hall has filed notice that he will exercise his 5th Amendment rights not to self-incriminate.
In the hearing, Morries Hall is asking Judge Cahill to quash his subpoena so that he will not be called into the courtroom to testify. Hall will appear via Zoom from the Hennepin County Jail, where he is currently being held.
The trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd begins with opening statements this morning in Minneapolis. KARE 11 will broadcast the entire trial live on TV and the web -- here are ways for you to watch.
I expect opening statements to take up much of the morning -- and I also expect the prosecution to begin calling witnesses today. There is also lots of activity around the courthouse and we have several reporters covering all issues.
All 15 jurors showed up, so the last one seated -- a white man in his 20s is dismissed -- the other 14 will make up the 12 jurors and 2 alternates.
Feels like Deja Vu this morning in the Derek Chauvin case, the officer charged with killing George Floyd. Court is scheduled to resume at 8a central with jury selection to start at 9. Here is my thread for 3/9/21 and an article here as a primer. kare11.com/article/news/l…
Last night, Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson filed a petition for further review to the MN Supreme Court as he said he would. He also filed an opposition to the state's motion for writ of prohibition to the MN Court of Appeals.
What does that mean? We are waiting to hear back from CoA whether they will stop the trial completely while we wait to hear from MN SupCo. The MN SupCo can either agree to take the case or reject it. If they reject it -- the CoA issue becomes irrelevant.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin today in the Derek Chauvin trial, the first former officer charged with killing George Floyd. Lots of developments expected early. Follow this thread for details.
Extraordinary outside. Right now people are really spread out surrounding the Hennepin County Government Center.
This morning, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and several other city leaders held a news conference about what to expect as far as communication and safety measures in the city during the Derek Chauvin Trial. The emphasis was on two-way communication to make sure residents are heard
It was really something to hear Econ Policy & Development Dir Erik Hansen say in the same breath "Mpls will be open for business" as well as advising boarding up and moving important docs off-site. I guess that represents the range of what they hope vs fear might happen.
Starting March 1st, S 6th street between 3rd and 4th Ave will be closed. That is the street and sidewalk that runs right underneath the Hennepin County Gov Center where the trial will be held. No other street closures announced, but they alluded that others will happen as needed.