Court reconvenes at 9:30 CDT, 10:30 EDT, 8:30 MDT, and 7:30 PDT. Depending on when your stream source begins, the judge often does some motion/issue housecleaning prior to that — so check in if you can around 9:15 CDT.
Before starting with the Chauvin murder trial, I have some thoughts about the Daunte Wright murder. Hennepin County ME, Dr. Andrew Baker, is back into another senseless cop murder case. As many who have followed the trial remember, Dr. Baker said there are 5 causes of death an ME can choose to put in a Death Certificate according to the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME): natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, and undetermined. The Hennepin County ME’s office wrote in homicide for Daunte Wright’s murder; not sad, unfortunate accident.
Now to the case at hand — yesterday started with house cleaning matters: 1. Motion re: allowing Morries Hall’s statements in TX where he was arrested. Judge Cahill took the matter under advisement and after lunch denied motion to allow statement testimony due to 5th amendment concerns. 2. Defense requested sequestration of jury because of the Duante Wright shooting. Not a stupid request but denied.
First witness was cardiologist from Northwestern U. Hospital, Dr. Jonathan Rich. Another expert who didn’t collect a fee — only payment for trial day because of time off from job. He said this was his first time testifying but could have fooled me. Brilliant in his detailed but accessible for the lay person descriptions of cardiology related matters. Related beautifully via eye contact with the jury. Solid on death due to subdual cardio-pulmonary failure.
The afternoon started with poignant testimony from George’s younger brother, Philonise Floyd. Not only did he speak to what a great brother and community man George was, he highlighted George’s closeness to their mother, Miss Cissy. He put to bed one of the defense’s stupid arguments that Floyd was calling out to his girlfriend and not his mother when he cried, Momma, Philonise said George wailed that at his mother’s coffin — repeatedly. A few very lovely family pictures of George.
Finally, law professor Seth Stoughton whose specialty is LE, especially use of force issues. He was a Tallahassee police officer/reserve for @ 5 years prior to going to law school. I keep wanting to use the word, devastating when speaking of the prosecution’s witnesses, but he really was. Defense attorney Nelson couldn’t lay a finger on him. Stoughton frequently contradicted what Nelson was saying.
Except for the possibility of rebuttal witnesses after Nelson’s case in chief, the prosecution is finished with witness testimony and beyond a job well done. Stellar. This prosecution should be textbook material as to how to pick witnesses and in what order to present them.
At the end of yesterday, Judge Cahill told the jurors that the trial may end as early as Thursday afternoon. Closing arguments won’t begin until Monday at the earliest, giving the jurors and attorneys a long weekend. The jurors will be sequestered following the closing arguments.