Thread by @samanthajhendr

Court is back in session. Nelson apologizes again for how long the closing statements are taking. #ChauvinTrial

The defense argues that the idea that George Floyd only died from one COD is "preposterous."

The defense is going into heavy detail about the events of the day and cause of death, presumedly to emphasize reasonable doubt.

"All of this, when you take into account the presumption of innocence and proof beyond a reasonable doubt, I would present to you that it is nonsense that none of these other factors had anything to do with this."

Defense has closed. Cahill has asked the jury to leave for a few minutes while he speaks to the lawyers.

The state says that the defense misstated the definition of intent, per the law. They are requesting that the judge tell the jury this and provide them with the right definition.

Cahill denies, and says that the instructions already ask the jury to disregard a definition different from what's in the instructions.

Jury is coming back. The prosecution will have their chance at rebuttal.

Blackwell is speaking to the jury for the rebuttal. He says there is a 46th witness: common sense. "It will continue talking with you all the while."

"it's so simple, a child could understand it. And a child did." Blackwell says, referring to the nine-year-old witness who begged Chauvin to get off of Floyd.

Blackwell is going through the "contributing factors" argued by the defense and refuting them, such as the heart problems, excited delirium, etc.

Blackwell: "There can be other factors... those other factors are not direct causes of the death."

"Once you analyze these [stories] against the facts and evidence you have heard, you'll see what I mean." Blackwell says, calling the defense's case "stories."

Blackwell says that there are 144 10 minute increments in 24 hours. Only after the almost 10 minutes that George Floyd spent under Chauvin's knee, did Floyd die. Not in the 143 other 10 min increments.

Ultimately, Blackwell says, the catalyst for all the other issues in Floyd's body contributing to his death was the neck compression from Chauvin's knee.

"You have heard there are two sides to every story... What we're about here is getting to the truth, and not simply stories."

"You'll decide for yourself whether that was the face of someone who was afraid... he had all the power." Blackwell says of Chauvin.

Blackwell says that the bystanders respected that badge. If they hadn't, they would have interfered, and "we wouldn't be here." Instead, they called the police, then testified in court.

"Not to tell a story, but to tell the truth."

"In your custody is in your care. It's not 'in your custody, I don't care.'" Blackwell says, referring to the argument that GF breathed in carbon monoxide from the car exhaust.

"You didn't need to be a medical doctor to understand that when someone is saying 'I can't breathe'... you don't need a Ph.D, an MD, to understand how fundamental breathing is to life... even a nine-year-old little girl knows it."

"The unreasonable use of force is an assault. Here is an assault, and it contributed to the death of Mr. Floyd."

"Even when the ambulance comes, [Chauvin] does not let or get up.... [Floyd] never breathed again."

Blackwell: "You were told that Mr. Floyd died because his heart was too big. Now having seen all the evidence and heard all the evidence that the reason Mr. Floyd died was that Mr. Chauvin's heart was too small."

Blackwell finishes. It's now up to the jury. Deliberation on the verdict of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd will begin.