Medical examiner testifies George Floyd’s death was caused by the neck restraint from police

During the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin on Friday, Dr. Andrew Baker, the medical examiner for Hennepin County, Minn., said George Floyd’s cause of death was “cardio-pulomonary arrest, complicating law enforcement subdual restraint and neck compression.”

Video transcript

- So if we could look up, [INAUDIBLE], the section on cause of death? So Dr. Baker, take into account the entire exchange you had with Mr. Nelson on Mr. Floyd's medical conditions, on whatever testimony you gave, wherever you gave it. I want to bring your attention back to what's reflected in exhibit 193. And taking all of that into account, what, today, remains your opinion as to the cause of death for Mr. Floyd?

ANDREW BAKER: So my opinion remains unchanged. It's what I put on the death certificate last June. That's cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression. That was my top line then. It would stay my top line now.

- And so we look at the other contributing conditions, those other contributing conditions are not conditions that you consider direct causes. Is that true?

ANDREW BAKER: They are not direct causes of Mr. Floyd's death. That's true. They're contributing causes.

- And in terms of manner of death, you found then, and do you stand by to today, that the manner of death for Mr. Floyd was, as you would call it, homicide?

ANDREW BAKER: Yes, I would still classify it as a homicide today.

- Thank you, Dr. Baker. No further questions.