Third day of testimony in Chauvin trial concludes

Minneapolis — The third day of testimony in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, charged in the death of George Floyd, followed a theme from Days 1 and 2: Witnesses have expressed regret over not doing more to help the Black man who died after the white officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes.

One of the most striking moments on Wednesday involved Charles McMillian, who dropped his head down and hit the desk as he wiped away tears from his behind his whiteframed glasses.

As Floyd was being detained by police, McMillian said he told him: “Get on in the car because you can’t win.”

McMillian said he was trying to make the situation with Floyd easier based on his own interactions with police.

He said he understood that once placed in a police car, “You’re done.”

Floyd can be heard in the video saying that he’s scared and claustrophobic as officers continued to try to force him in the car.

McMillian can be heard off to the side, telling Floyd he was going to have a heart attack based on how he was responding to officers.

“Mama! Mama! Mama,” Floyd cried out on the video. “Oh my God. I can’t believe this.”

During his testimony, McMillian, 61, dropped his head down and hit the desk before him with a clenched fist of anguish as he wiped away tears.

“I feel helpless,” McMillian said, explaining his reaction to reliving the last moments Floyd would be alive. “I understand him.”

Chauvin is charged with secondand third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The Minneapolis Police Department fired him after Floyd’s death. The three officers who accompanied Chauvin on the May 25 call — Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao — are charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter.