Overdose did not kill Floyd, jury told

MINNEAPOLIS: George Floyd’s death “was absolutely preventable” and there is no evidence a drug overdose caused the black man’s demise, according to a prominent cardiologist.

Jonathan Rich, the cardiologis who has reviewed the medical records in Floyd’s murder case, told the Hennepin County District Court different actions could have been taken that would have saved the 46year-old’s life.

Sacked Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is facing murder and manslaughter charges for his role in Floyd’s death, which occurred during his arrest for allegedly passing a fake $20 note last year.

Chauvin, who is white, was filmed in a video taken by a bystander kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes as the handcuffed Floyd (pictured) complained repeatedly “I can’t breathe”.

Dr Rich told the court he believed Floyd “would have survived that day” if he had not been restrained in such a forceful and dangerous way.

During his testimony, he also dismissed claims by Chauvin’s defence team that Floyd’s death was due to his consumption of the illegal drugs fentanyl and methamphetamine and underlying health conditions.

“I can state with a high degree of medical certainty that George Floyd did not die from a primary cardiac event and he did not die from a drug overdose,” Dr Rich said.

Floyd’s brother, Philonise, broke down as he took the stand, remembering his brother as a “big mama’s boy”.

In his emotional testimony, he described the moment that Floyd learned his mother had died. Floyd was talking to her on the phone, but she passed away before he reached her.