Thread by @LouRaguse

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.

Morries Hall is currently in jail on a felony charge of violating a no-contact order. He also has an active case from Redwood County that involves drugs and sex trafficking charges.

Here is our Youtube link to watch this motions hearing. Then at 9:10 -- join us on Channel 11.

In opening statements, defense attorney Eric Nelson said he would call Hall as a witness (perhaps signaling that the prosecution had no intention of doing so)

The state has given him no immunity (again a sign that they probably aren't eager for him to testify)

Hall's attorney says he would plead the 5th regarding any activities taking place on May 25, 2020.
Since drugs found in car, and George Floyd died, his attorneys says testimony would potentially incriminate himself into a future prosecution of 3rd degree murder

Hall's attorney would also plead the 5th regarding any drug use by George Floyd -- for the same reason -- anyone in the chain of events of drug distribution that leads to a death could potentially be prosecuted for Murder-3

Nelson says if he was able to call Hall as witness, would ask about:
-any events leading up to their arrival at Cup Foods
-Hall's interaction with Floyd in Cup Food, who gave who
-If Hall sold or gave drugs to GF
-If GF was falling asleep in car

Nelson would ask:
-About comments Hall told police about GF going for the ignition when police approached
-Giving false names to Police
-Hall's decision to leave MN right after the incident

Judge Cahill says -- Hall could plead fifth regarding counterfeit bill, lies told to police, motives for fleeing, use and possession of drugs by both Hall and GF.

Cahill trying to figure out if there is anything he could testify about. Possibly observations from passenger seat

Hall's attorney disagrees -- and says that Hall even answering question about being in the car puts him in close proximity to Floyd -- and exposes him on potential 3rd Degree murder charge.

Judge Cahill doesn't seem to agree that basic testimony about observations from the car would incriminate him.

Hall's attorney firmly says it could.

Now prosecutor Matthew Frank says the jury can't hear Hall invoke his 5th A right in front of them.

Frank says other questioning that would occur during that testimony would lead to Hall having to invoke his 5th -- verbally -- in front of the jury.

Judge Cahill says Eric Nelson needs to draft his questions in written form -- so Hall can meet with his lawyer to see if he can answer those questions -- then there will be another motion hearing like this without jury to determine if he can be called as witness.

Judge Cahill isn't willing to say that the witness simply cannot be called at all and avoid any testimony by invoking 5th Amendment rights.

Current witness, Sgt. Ker Yang from MPD, testified about the Critical Decision Making Model -- on which officers are trained to follow when dealing with people who are in crisis.

In cross-examination, Eric Nelson asks about training and other things not apparent to a citizen coming into play.

Lt. Johnny Mercil is now on the witness stand. He stated that he's currently on medical leave.

Well over 100 MPD officers took medical leave last year after the death of George Floyd and all that followed.

Lt. Mercil was in charge of use of force training on May 25, 2020. Plus continuing education.

He was mentioned by name in opening statements by prosecutor Jerry Blackwell.

He's being questioned today by Steve Schleicher.

Schleicher is having Lt. Mercil drill down definitions of use of force.

Lt. Mercil states that officers should start with least amount of force necessary.

Lt. Mercil testified on direct examination that this is not a neck restraint as taught by MPD.

On cross-examination, said a neck restraint could render unconscious in 10 seconds, which I believe Nelson was getting at to argue that the knee wasn't where the state says it was.

Nelson is showing these still images from body cameras to Lt. Mercil -- to show the knee on the shoulder blade rather than neck. This now appears to be a key part of the defense -- disputing the placement of the knee.

Nelson got Lt. Mercil to agree the photo appears to show -- not a neck restraint -- but a "prone hold an officer may apply with his knee."

Nelson also just got Lt. Mercil to agree he has held down a person until EMS arrives.

Prosecution now doing redirect -- and Lt. Mercil testifies that this group of people filming does not mean Chauvin should have used more force.

We are into the afternoon session now, and the first witness is Officer Nicole McKenzie with Minneapolis Police. Here is the Youtube link:

Officer McKenzie provides medical training to officers, including for the use of Narcan.

Prosecution showing that Derek Chauvin was trained in CPR

This is a good piece our team did which explains how Derek Chauvin's defense is funded: kare11.com/article/news/v…

In cross-examination, Eric Nelson is asking questions about how people appear during an opiate overdose. He is also showing how even a small amount of fentanyl can be deadly.

Now -- the topic of excited delirium. The HCMC ER doc who testified called it "controversial" -- the jury is taking in this information potentially with that in mind.

But Officer MacKenzie is talking about how officers are taught about excited delirium in the academy.

Officer MacKenzie -- on cross -- said that sometimes EMS "load and go" is done because bystanders sometimes attack paramedics. Not what prosecution would have liked her to say. They tried to object for relevance but were overruled.

The current witness is Jody Stiger -- a Sgt with the Los Angeles Police Department. The state is using him as a national use of force expert.

He just testified that Derek Chauvin used excessive force on George Floyd.

Now the prosecution is going through the body camera videos and scrutinizing each part with Stiger.

Here they are showing how the hobble restraint is properly used. Tou Thao retrieved the hobble but the officers never used it.