Chauvin defence witness testifies George Floyd died due to heart issues

George Floyd died of a sudden heart rhythm problem due to his heart disease while being restrained by police, a retired forensic pathologist testified for the defence yesterday at former police officer Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, contradicting several experts who said Mr Floyd succumbed to a lack of oxygen.

Dr David Fowler, a former chief medical examiner for the state of Maryland and now a member of a consulting firm, said the fentanyl and methamphetamine in Mr Floyd’s system, and possible carbon monoxide poisoning from auto exhaust, were contributing factors. He said Mr Floyd also had high blood pressure and narrowing of the arteries.

“All of those combined to cause Mr. Floyd’s death,” he said on the second day of the defence case.

He also testified that he would classify the manner of death “undetermined”, rather than homicide as the county’s chief medical examiner ruled. Dr Fowler said the death had too many conflicting factors, some of which could be ruled homicide and some that could be considered accidental.

Mr Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, is trying to prove that the 19-year Minneapolis police veteran did what he was trained to do and that Mr Floyd died because of his illegal drug use and underlying health problems.

Prosecutors say Mr Floyd died because Mr Chauvin’s knee was pressed against Mr Floyd’s neck or neck area for nine-and-a-half minutes as the 46-year-old black man lay pinned to the pavement on his stomach last May, his hands cuffed behind his back.

Dr Fowler listed a multitude of factors: Mr Floyd’s narrowed arteries, his enlarged heart, his use of methamphetamine and fentanyl, the stress of his restraint, his high blood pressure, the carbon monoxide, and a tumour or growth in his lower abdomen that can sometimes play a role in high blood pressure by releasing “fight-or-flight” hormones.

Dr Fowler said all of those factors could have acted together to cause Mr Floyd’s heart to work harder and suddenly stop.

Mr Nelson questioned Dr Fowler extensively about carbon monoxide, which displaces oxygen in the bloodstream of people who breathe it in. Dr Fowler said it could have contributed to oxygen depletion in Mr Floyd, noting that he was close to the vehicle's exhaust pipe. But there is no way to know for sure because, he acknowledged, Mr Floyd’s blood was never tested for carbon monoxide.

Several top Minneapolis police officials, including the police chief, have testified that Mr Chauvin used excessive force and violated his training. A number of medical experts called by prosecutors have said Mr Floyd died from a lack of oxygen because the way he was restrained restricted his breathing.

Dr Fowler said the prone position alone does not affect a person’s ability to breathe – testimony that contradicts other witnesses who said the position Mr Floyd was in, with his hands cuffed behind his back, was dangerous.

He also testified that Mr Chauvin’s knee was not applied with enough pressure to cause any bruises or scrapes on Mr Floyd’s neck or back. He further said that Mr Chauvin’s knee on Mr Floyd was “nowhere close to his airway”, and that Mr Floyd’s speaking and groaning showed that his airway was still open.

Online Editors