Posted on 02/09/2022 12:54:00 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A toxicologist testified Wednesday at the federal trial of three former officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights that it wasn’t drug use, heart disease nor an agitated state known as “excited delirium” that caused Floyd’s death after officers pinned him to the pavement in May 2020.
Dr. Vik Bebarta, an emergency physician and toxicologist and professor at the University of Colorado in suburban Denver, bolstered the prosecution’s contention that Floyd died because of how Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee down on the Black man’s neck.
Bebarta said he concluded that Floyd “died from a lack of oxygen to his brain” and that he had suffocated because his airway had been closed off. That was consistent with testimony from a lung specialist who said that Floyd could have been saved if officers had moved him into a position to breathe more easily.
Bebarta said Floyd did not die from the low levels of fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system, nor from his heart disease and high blood pressure. He said that on video from inside a convenience store before his fatal encounter with police, Floyd did not appear to be seriously intoxicated or experiencing an overdose. But he did not dispute a store clerk’s earlier testimony that Floyd seemed high.
“He was awake, walking communicating, walking quickly at times,” Bebarta said.
Both prosecutor Manda Sertich and Thao’s attorney, Robert Paule, questioned the doctor about the disputed condition of excited delirium. Bebarta said Floyd did not display any symptoms that doctors typically associate with the condition, such as high pain tolerance, superhuman strength and endurance. He said he’s probably seen at least 1,000 such patients over the years.
“He did not die from what would be referred to as excited delirium,” Bebarta testified.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
They pay these expert witnesses so much they can always find one who will testify whatever the lawyers want.
My wife was hired as an expert witness in a bunch of malpractice cases several years ago.
The lawyers would pay her in weekly installments as she studied the case and turned in weekly reports of her findings. They always assured her they wanted her to “just tell the truth as she sees it” - which she did.
But as soon as she would discover and report something that would damage their client - the lawyers would drop her like a hot potato and find another expert.
She got to keep the money she had been paid up until that point, but after a couple months she stopped getting calls - they want people who will lie.
Except the Coroner ruled it was heart failure due to a massive overdose of street drugs.
Sorry, I don't like kangaroo courts and OJ juries.
"The medical examiner who ruled George Floyd's death a homicide testified Friday that Floyd's heart disease and drug use contributed to his death, but police officers' restraint of his body and compression of his neck were the primary causes."
Floyd's medical examiner was Dr. Andrew Baker, who ruled and testified that his death was a homicide, not a overdose.
Who is paying him——? We all know Minnesota is screwed up so it’s hard to see thru what the background might be. But I’ve been a professional witness many times and I almost never know who pays my fee. My advice may be requested by either side and payment is always approved by the judge. The check comes from the DA’s office. Sometimes I can guess who’s paying by the questions that get asked but my opinion is always submitted before meetings happen.
FWIW the resulting trials and/or pleas are very short after I submit an opinion. Either the charge gets dropped because it was out of line or the perp cops a plea because the case against him/her/it is too clear. I believe I’ve saved the local county millions of $ in court costs over the years by simplifying many cases.
I too read that the procedure was approved in the Police Manual and I've said from day one that if that's true, then everyone who signed that manual should also be on trial for murder if Chauvin was.
However, this is a big city and so it's a pretty good bet that at least the Mayor and the Chief of Police, who would've signed the manual, have immunity due to skin color and voter registration.
It on video him popping a white chunk into his mouth during the initial stop so this testimony of how he was at the convenience store is meaningless. The reverse video also shows the officers knee was not on his neck but shoulder.
anyone who thinks otherwise is a domestic terrorist
This whole Saint Floyd situation is a disgrace. How much did Crump pay this guy and how long did it take to find this doctor who can make these diagnosis with a cell phone video. Cops ARE getting worse because good people don’t want to be cops. Who would want to work in those jungles when the government will stab you in the back and throw you in prison for doing your job?
I don’t think the other rookie cops were guilty of murder or manslaughter here. But it’s Floyd, so they’ll probably give them the death penalty.
I detect a DU troll.
I’m sure the defense will provide their own toxicologist who will say drugs played the major part. See who the jury believes.
not only is it horribly written as for being a writer who works for the AP, it medically makes no sense.
I don't believe they ever ruled drugs was the cause of death.
So this emerges during Black History month a year later?
so fentanyl no longer affects breathing... right
SnitchesGetStitches.
As a black belt in Karate I was very interested
in how the cops are trained to hold a violent
suspect bigger than they are while they are
under the influence of drugs which dulls their
sensation of pain.
I remember at first they could not determine
where the officers knee was pressing on Floyd.
Then someone found a video that was taken from
the most neutral angle and it clearly showed
Floyd was pinned against the ground by the officers
knee pressed against the shoulder blade.
He was cuffed from behind which usually opens
up the chest allowing better breathing. Try this
move your elbows back with a scapular retraction
and see that the chest expands.
Someone has an agenda against these cops. I
always support a cop who has to do his job while
a perp is using all his strength to hurt the officer.
This is why I support using tasers and mace.
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