George Floyd autopsy shows he died of asphyxia and his death was partly caused by other officers, lawyer says

The lawyer for George Floyd’s family says that an independent autopsy shows that Mr Floyd died from asphyxiation caused by neck and back compression during his arrest by Minneapolis police officers over Memorial Day weekend.

Medical examiners found that pressure on Mr Floyd’s carotid artery impeded blood flow to his brain and weight on his back impeded his ability to breathe. From all the evidence, doctors said it now appears that he died at the scene.

Attorney Ben Crump has called for officer Derek Chauvin to be charged with first degree murder for the sustained pressure he placed on his Mr Floyd's neck with his knee for at least eight minutes — including after witnesses and a paramedic expressed concern for Mr Floyd's safety.

The autopsy states that the two officers kneeling on Mr Floyd's back also played a contributing factor in his death in addition to the handcuffs and his positioning. The fourth officer who stood by is described as a "physical blue shield — a living symbol of the code of silence".

"For George Floyd the ambulance was his hearse," Mr Crump said.

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