A Minneapolis court has been shown new police bodycam footage of George Floyd pleading with officers during his arrest, saying: “I’m not a bad guy”.The video shows police officer Derek Chauvin with his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, and Mr Floyd begging not to be harmed.
Mr Chauvin, 45, who has since been fired from the police force, denies charges of murder and manslaughter.
Mr Floyd’s death in 2020 sparked global protests over policing and racism.
Defence lawyers have indicated they will argue that 46-year-old Mr Floyd died of an overdose and poor health, and the force used was reasonable.
Observers on the third day of the trial said footage shown of Mr Floyd’s actions before and during the arrest may be an attempt by prosecutors to deal with the allegation that drugs played a part in his death.
What does the bodycam film show?
The court has been shown footage from the body cameras belonging to officers Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao. Mr Chauvin’s camera fell to the ground as the arrest unfolded and so did not give a visual recording of the event.
In Mr Lane’s footage, Mr Floyd is seen being confronted by police. He begs them: “Please don’t shoot me… I just lost my mom.”
Mr Floyd is handcuffed and continues to plead with Officers Lane and Kueng, saying he is not resisting them and “will do anything you tell me to”.
A scuffle occurs when police try to get Mr Floyd into a vehicle, and he starts crying and resisting while saying he is claustrophobic and has anxiety.
Mr Chauvin and his partner Mr Thao arrive as the arrest goes on.
As the police officers drag him out of the car and restrain him on the ground, Mr Floyd can be heard calling for his mother and telling his family members he loves them.
Bystanders begin to shout at officers to check Mr Floyd’s pulse and stop restraining him. – BBC News
