Most senior Officer in Minnedishu PD says that it is lethal force to put your knee on someone's neck. They have never been trained to do this with someone handcuffed behind their back while in the prone position.
He further states that simply being handcuffed with your hands behind your back makes it hard to breathe, and being in the prone position would make it even harder to breathe. For this reason once someone is handcuffed with their hands behind their back you get their chest off the ground. (GF's chest was on the ground the whole time) He said you usually get them on their side or sitting.
This came before the break at 10:45 local time, probably after 10:15.
He further states that of the 5 levels of force, once you have someone handcuffed behind their back you immediately drop to the lowest level of force and threat, the perp can't really hurt you, while they can still kick you can get out of the way.
Cross-examination should be interesting!
He also establishes that the Officer who handcuffs a perp immediately becomes responsible for their well being. I point out that if Chauvin didn't handcuff GF, this adds a wrinkle to the case.
The police were also fending off other people. It wasn't just George so yeah, if George kicks while the officer is fending off other people he can not get out of the way since he is focused on another threat.
That idea has been addressed in the trial, but perhaps not as thoroughly as possible. The defense has an uphill battle establishing that line of reasoning, but might still be able to do so.
I think they have a better chance with the hospital is only 2 blocks away so they should wait for the paramedics, and holding GF still is the only thing they're trained to do for EXD. Other than calling for the ambulance which had already been done.
I expect the defense to do their best with every angle. I haven't seen them deliberately "throw it" yet, which is one of the things I'm watching for like a hawk.