The ramifications of George Floyd’s death in 2020 still reverberate across the nation. Black Lives Matter riots broke out across the country, and Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was eventually sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for violating Floyd's civil rights after he allegedly caused his death by leaning on his neck and back to restrain him. He is concurrently serving a 22 1/2-year state sentence for several charges, including second-degree unintentional murder.
But there’s a new twist as Chauvin, who was stabbed 22 times by a former Mexican Mafia member while behind bars, has been granted permission by a U.S. District Judge to examine heart tissue and fluid samples taken from Floyd’s body.
JUST IN: In new court ruling, Derek Chauvin will be allowed to test heart tissue of George Floyd. pic.twitter.com/51Kzl1qoIP
— Liz Collin (@lizcollin) December 16, 2024
Biden's Ominous Call to Action on 4th Anniversary of George Floyd's Death: 'Let's Act in His Memory'
His attorneys argue that it wasn’t Chauvin’s actions that led to Floyd’s death:
His latest bid to have the conviction tossed cites 'ineffective assistance of counsel' from original defense attorney Eric Nelson, whom he says failed to relay to him a Kansas forensic pathologist's theory that Chauvin did not cause Floyd’s death.
'Given the significant nature of the criminal case that [Chauvin] was convicted of, and given that the discovery that [he] seeks could support [the pathologist's] opinion of how Mr. Floyd died, the Court finds that there is good cause to allow [Chauvin] to take the discovery,' Magnuson wrote upon making his decision.
He added how Chauvin’s defense team will now have the ability to procure evidence from histology slides and tissue samples taken from the victim's heart during his initial autopsy, the results of which were used to convict Chauvin and three others.
BREAKING: Derek Chauvin has been granted permission to examine heart tissue and fluid samples taken from George Floyd's body.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 16, 2024
Chauvin claimed his attorney failed to seek testing of Floyd's heart tissue samples after a doctor suggested that tests would show evidence of a heart… pic.twitter.com/YFKbj5pLRQ
Chauvin claimed his attorney failed to seek testing of Floyd's heart tissue samples after a doctor suggested that tests would show evidence of a heart condition. The findings of this can be HUGE...
Chauvin said he is convinced the theories of a pathologist show a different side to the story:
In November last year, Chauvin's attorney filed a motion to vacate the federal charges related to the May 2020 death of Floyd. Chauvin said he wouldn't have pleaded guilty had he known about the theories of Kansas pathologist Dr. William Schaetzel, who does not believe Chauvin's actions caused Floyd's death.
Schaetzel suggests Floyd died due to a high level of catecholamines — a neurohormone important in stress response, associated with the flight-or-fight response — or Takotsubo myocarditis, a heart condition that develops in response to an intense emotional or physical experience.
The motion also accuses Chauvin's attorney at the time, Eric Nelson, of ineffective counsel by failing to inform his client of Schaetzel's theory and failing to test samples of Floyd's heart despite the doctor's recommendations.
We'll just have to wait and see how this one plays out. One thing is for sure, though: the George Floyd drama—which traumatized and divided our nation—is far from over.
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