REVEALED: Transcripts from bodycam reveal George Floyd told killer-cop Derek Chauvin he couldn't breathe 20 times but was told 'it takes a lot of oxygen to talk'
REVEALED: Transcripts from bodycam reveal George Floyd told killer-cop Derek Chauvin he couldn't breathe 20 times but was told 'it takes a lot of oxygen to talk'
Transcripts of police bodycam videos in the minutes leading up to George Floyd's death have revealed that he pleaded 20 times that he couldn't breathe and was told by killer-cop Derek Chauvin that "it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen" to talk.
The transcripts for the body camera videos were filed in Minnesota state court on Wednesday, July 8, as part of a motion to dismiss charges against one of the officers involved, Thomas Lane, who expressed concern about Floyd's well-being.
The police bodycam worn by former officers Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng revealed more details of what was said after Floyd, a black man who was handcuffed and pinned to the ground for nearly 8 minutes as police were taking him into custody on May 25.
In the transcript of Lane's bodycam footage, Floyd pleaded for his life, saying:
And, again, as Floyd is heard speaking for the last time: Ah! Ah! Please. Please. Please.
After that exchange, someone in the crowd at the scene noticed that Floyd was no longer breathing. The officers then confirmed that he's non-responsive.
In their motion to dismiss the charges against Lane, attorneys argued their client did not intend to further a crime when he held down Floyd's legs and feet.
Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, said in an interview on Wednesday that the court should make the video from the body cameras public.
Lane, Kueng, and Tou Thao have all been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter. All three of the officers have been released on bond.
Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and third-degree manslaughter. He is being held on $1 million bond.
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