Lawyers for ex-cops raise Floyd's history of crime, drug use

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


AMY FORLITI
, Associated Press
Sep. 10, 2020
Updated: Sep. 10, 2020 12:33 p.m.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An attorney for one of four former Minneapolis officers charged in George Floyd's death is highlighting Floyd’s past crimes and history of drug use, calling him an ex-con and “evident danger to the community.” Another is seizing on Floyd’s medical issues and addiction, saying he likely died from fentanyl, not a knee on his neck.

Some court filings by defense attorneys in recent months are taking a blame-the-victim approach. It's a common defense strategy that legal experts say will be used to show officers acted reasonably, and to counter widely seen bystander video showing a white police officer kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes.

Experts say the strategy may resonate with a potential jury pool, even if much of what is said now never comes up at a trial set for next spring.

Don Lewis, a prominent Twin Cities attorney who is not connected to this case, said it’s not unusual for defense attorneys to “feed the stereotype of the dangers of a Black man” to a jury to show that any use of force by law enforcement is justified. He said only one or two jurors need to have doubts.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Lawyers-for-ex-cops-raise-Floyd-s-history-of-15557115.php

[Xipe Totec]

1. In other words cops are judges, juries, and executioners. nt

[SamKnause]

2. Let's hear the history of the cops criminal records, criminal complaints, drug use, and alcohol use.

[stillcool]

4. oooh, yeah.

good for the goose, good for the gander. Especially the knee-guy, that worked at a night club. I know his type.

[LunaSea]

3. Roll

the fucking tape.
Having jurors endure the snuff film in it's entirety.
Then ask them about doubts.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. So, the prosecution objects and the judge tells the jury to ignore it-- but they still heard it...

Just like on TV.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. And they considered all this in the moment, right?

Lawyer-speak.

[stopdiggin]

7. utterly predictable

and probably dereliction if the defense didn't at least try to introduce.

[Grins]

8. IMMATERIAL!!!

What Floyd did or might have done is immaterial to his death. Floyd is not on trial. The police are.

This is an attempt to rig the jury pool in advance.

On a side note: At the time of his death the Harris County (Texas) district attorney was trying to find Floyd to tell him a crime he had been charged with and sent to prison for was being vacated because the ONE POLICE OFFICER who allegedly saw his crime, testified against him, helped force him to plead guilty to get a lesser sentence - had been ARRESTED and charged with FELONY MURDER in another case where he falsified police records, forcing a review of every case in which he was involved.

[marie999]

9. The defense attorneys are supposed to do everything they legally can to get their client off.

[PatrickforO]

10. Irrelevant. Whatever his past record,

the fact a cop knelt on his neck and one on his back while he was cuffed and helpless on his belly is the issue. He didn't have to die that day.

[JohnnyRingo]

11. But most people just go to jail or rehab for that.

hell of a way to stop an addiction.

[PSPS]

12. The cop union strikes again. Disband the force, make new one, invite former ones to reapply-No union

[EarthFirst]

13. They're making the same accusations in the Daniel Prude case as well...

His character; mental health; drug abuse et. al to justify his death while in restrained custody of RPD.