The other three officers will demand to get separate trials, at least from Chauvin. Assuming they succeed, they can point out that prior to the arrival of Chauvin, nothing they did was remotely abusive or likely to harm Floyd. Chauvin arrived and took over the scene. He had 17 years of experience, and the other officers can claim they were required to defer to him. If MPD policy supports giving the senior officer “command” at the scene, that will be a big element of blaming Chauvin. One cop even tried to get Chauvin to turn Floyd on his side. Chauvin indicated everything was in effect ok. The other three blame Chauvin and deeply regret that things worked out so badly. Physically attacking Chauvin did not seem like an option; wish we had. Etc.
Another point the defense might raise, is how does a person who can’t breathe say “I can’t breathe” 16 times?
The asphyxia that the “outside” ME claims caused Floyd’s death involved the pressure on Floyd’s neck, which they say constricted his carotid arteries, thus starving his brain of oxygen. If that is the case, would Floyd have felt like he could not breathe (as in, could not get air into his lungs)? And why was Floyd complaining about breathing problems before Chauvin put his knee of Floyd’s neck?
perhaps:
1. Floyd ws complaining about not being able to breathe because
a) Covid had screwed up his lungs even if he ws asymptomatic
b) ingesting 4x the lethal dose of fentynl in combination with meth, morphine and alcohol interrupted his heart rhythm (4x meaning he had tolerance and was a habitual user)
c) he was already in cardiac arrest, shown by ‘foam’ around his mouth at first encounter, inability to verbalize rationally, and him collapsing into the sidewalk gutter while supported by two officers prior to the walk to the car - and his complaint that his ‘belly’ hurt, his legs hurt, everything hurt
note that at first, Floyd was sitting on the hood of his car and belligerent to the store owner. But by the time the police got there he was behind the wheel of his vehicle, yet had not moved from the parking spot or started the vehicle.
Was Chauvin given a drug test? Was he contaminated with fentynl by Floyd’s sweat? Is that why Chauvin kept his hand in his pocket? And looked increasingly sweaty while kneeling? How much weight was Chauvin transferring to the tire of the vehicle with his right arm as he knelt?