George Floyd’s Girlfriend Paramedics Take Position On Day Four Of Testimony In Derek Chauvin Trial

Prosecutors continued to lay their case on Thursday against Derek Chauvin, the discharged Minneapolis officer charged with the death of George Floyd. George Floyd’s girlfriend Courteney Batya Ross took the stand first for day four of testimony.

She broke down in tears as she spoke of their relationship, saying they first met in August 2017 in the Salvation Army lobby where Floyd worked as a security guard. Ross described Floyd as a “mommy’s boy” who was devastated by the death of his mother in 2018. She also described him as an active person who enjoyed lifting weights and playing sports.

When asked to identify a photo of Floyd, she sobbed, then laughed through her tears, describing it as a “daddy’s selfie.”

Ross also described how they both struggled with opioid drug use. She said they all became addicted after being prescribed medication.

“It’s a classic story of how many people are addicted to opioids. We both suffered from chronic pain. Mine was on my neck and his was on his back,” Ross said. “We both had prescriptions. But after the ordinances that were filled, we got addicted and – and tried very hard to break that addiction over and over.

She said the two quit drugs for a while in March 2020, but that in May she suspected Floyd was using drugs again due to “behavioral changes.”

Defense attorney Eric Nelson looked into Floyd’s drug use, asking Ross about an overdose he suffered in March 2020. Nelson also asked if Floyd bought drugs from his friend Morries Hall , who was in the car with Floyd before his fatal arrest, including pills about a week before his death which Ross said had a strong uplifting effect. Ross said she suspected Floyd bought the pills from Hall, but wasn’t sure.

After Ross resigned, two paramedics took the stand, testifying to trying to revive an unresponsive Floyd.

“He’s a human being and I was trying to give him a second chance at life,” said paramedic Derek Smith.

Eventually the paramedics testified, their efforts failed.

The first three days of testimony included firsthand accounts of Floyd’s fatal arrest by a series of eyewitnesses, some of whom cried and described feeling helpless as the unarmed black man struggled to breathe. On Wednesday, jurors watched a series of police camera videos showing the fatal encounter.

Chauvin, who has been seen in disturbing videos kneeling on Floyd’s neck, is charged with second degree murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty. Three other officers involved in the fatal arrest are accused of complicity and will be tried jointly in August.