CHAUVIN TRIAL: 'What I Watched Was Wrong' - New Video, New Witnesses in Day 3
Charles McMillan—a witness in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin—breaks down on the stand Wednesday, March 31, 2021 as he views footage of George Floyd pinned to the ground. Still image from pool video.
The third full day of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd featured gripping witness testimony and newly released video from the scene of E. 38th St. & Chicago Ave. last May 25.
The first witness of the afternoon was Charles McMillan, 61, who was in the area when he said he was "being nosy" and stopped by Cup Foods to investigate the commotion. He can be heard in bystander videos telling Floyd to comply with the officers as the struggle intensifies.
Surveillance video showed jurors McMillan walking to the intersection and watching as two officers fight with Floyd in the squad car and Chauvin arrives at the scene. McMillan says he had seen officer Chauvin a few days before the incident and McMillan tells Floyd in the video to "get in the car!"
A still image from pool video shown in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin depicts witness Charles McMillan interacting with officers at E. 38th St. & Chicago Ave. on May 25, 2020.
At one point during his testimony Wednesday, McMillan broke down when viewing the bodycam video of Floyd being pinned to the ground. A short recess had to be ordered as McMillan was visibly distraught and couldn’t continue.
"I was trying to help (Floyd)," McMillan said on the witness stand as the testimony continued.
The bodycam video--with audio included--continued as Floyd pleads with officers that he can’t breath.
"Get up and get in the car, man," McMillan shouts to Floyd in the video. "You can't win!"
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When McMillan sees Chauvin's knee is on Floyd's neck, his attention turns to Chauvin:
"That's wrong right there with your knee on his neck," he said in the May 25 clip.
Prosecutors also played newly released video that included audio of McMillan and Chauvin after Floyd is loaded to the ambulance. Some of the audio is muffled, but Chauvin can be heard explaining the incident to McMillan.
Chauvin tells McMillan that Floyd was a “sizable guy,” who needed to be controlled and that it looked like he was “on something.” The new video is the first explanation we’ve heard from Chauvin of the events that day, as he has not granted media interviews nor taken the stand himself.
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Back on the witness stand and after back-to-back bodycam videos are shown of the incident, detailing the last moments of Floyd’s life from slightly different angles, McMillan said to prosecutors, "what I watched was wrong."
Jurors also heard from a lieutenant with the Minneapolis Police Department, who outlined the department’s bodycam policies and procedures, and explained more about the surveillance camera network known as “Milestone” that captured some of the incident May 25, video of which is being shown in court.
A still image from the bodycam video of former officer Thomas Lane shows him initially drawing his gun on George Floyd on May 25, 2020.
A still image from the bodycam video of former officer Tou Thao shows the interview view of a squad car as officers arrive at Cup Foods at E. 38th St. & Chicago Ave. in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.
Former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin is shown in a still image from bodycam video, kneeling on George Floyd’s neck outside of the Cup Foods store on May 25, 2020.