A world-renowned breathing expert has told the George Floyd murder trial panel that the 46-year-old died from "lack of oxygen".
Dr Martin Tobin, a lung and critical care specialist from Chicago, said in his testimony at the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin that Mr Floyd's breathing was too shallow to take in enough oxygen while he was pinned facedown with his hands cuffed behind his back for around nine-and-a-half minutes.
He said he had watched footage of the arrest "hundreds of times" to help make a diagram of where the officers were positioned in relation to Mr Floyd when he was on the ground.
The diagram (seen at the top of this article) was presented to the jury and shows Chauvin's left knee on Mr Floyd's neck and his right on his arm and chest.
The evidence came just a day after a use-of-force expert also said Chauvin had his knee on Mr Floyd's neck area - and for the entire time he was being pinned down.
And on Thursday the jury was shown an image of the move.
In the photo, the toe of Chauvin's boot is off the ground.
Dr Tobin said that meant all of the ex-officer's body weight was "being directed down onto Mr Floyd's neck", at this point in the arrest.
This was calculated at 91.5 lbs.
Chauvin, 45, is charged with the second and third-degree murder and manslaughter of Mr Floyd, following his death on 25 May last year.
Mr Floyd had been arrested after being accused of trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes in a neighbourhood shop in Minneapolis.
Dr Tobin told the court on Thursday that the positioning of handcuffs at Mr Floyd's back as he was arrested, and the fact that he was face down on the street, was key evidence.
The handcuffs were pushed high into Mr Floyd's back through the actions of the officers, and he was effectively sandwiched between the street and the officers, putting his left side "in a vice", the court heard.
Dr Tobin said the effect on his left lung was deadly.
"Because of the knee that was rammed in against the left side of his chest... basically on the left side of his lung... it was almost... to the effect as if a surgeon had gone in and removed the [left] lung," he said.
"Not quite, but along those lines."
There was "very little opportunity" for Mr Floyd to get oxygen into his lungs, Dr Tobin added.
Latest Stories
-
Ogum and Kotoko’s March malaise
4 mins -
2 repair vessels dispatched for undersea cable repairs – says NCA’s latest update
46 mins -
Multimedia Group Limited’s Clinton Yeboah shortlisted for 2 International Sports Press Association Awards
50 mins -
High-value property sale gone wrong as Supreme Court rules against police officer
1 hour -
NHIS Biometric Membership Authentication System limited rollout satisfactory – NHIA Deputy CEO
1 hour -
Yara Ghana donates 1,107 bags of fertilizers to women farmers, farmers with disabilities
1 hour -
Tinubu forms team to find solutions to ailing economy
2 hours -
Jacob Zuma barred from running in South Africa election
2 hours -
Western Cape Education wins national primary school track and field championships
2 hours -
Cyber Security Authority issues Public Alert over Easter and Eid al-Fitr season scams
2 hours -
Sandro Tonali charged by FA for alleged betting rules breaches after joining Newcastle
2 hours -
Scancom PLC holds 6th AGM, declares dividend of 17.5 pesewas per share
3 hours -
Former Deputy AG accuses Godfred Dame of unethical legal behaviour
3 hours -
John Kumah goes home on May 18
3 hours -
Tema General Hospital: If a baby died, it wasn’t because of ‘dumsor’ – GHS Accra Director
3 hours