Expert testimony disproves basically all your thoughts here:
Except that if GF did not asphyxiate and rather died from an overdose,
Asphyxiation does not mean what you think it does. You can die from OD and still asphyxiate.
Low or no oxygen is established as cause of death. Asphyxiation is only one of many words for it.
OD is ruled out. Fentanyl OD is a coma, GF never entered a coma.
Making the case that difficulty breathing was a contributory factor when you have over three times the lethal dose of fentynal is disingenuous in the extreme.
Completely wrong. Once a cop takes someone into their custody, they are under that cop's care. This adds a wrinkle to the case since Chauvin wasn't even there when GF was cuffed.
Fentanyl reduces breathing. Still under the cop's care. Your thinking is exactly backwards. High levels of fent reduces respiratory rate, which was timed at 22 breaths per minute, the top end of normal.
That hold is prescribed specifically in the Minneapolis PD training manual
MRT (maximal restraint technique) in their manual was shown. It's nothing like what Chauvin did.
Chauvin was acting in accordance with his training, not out of some special malice
Training is specifically to either roll the perp onto their side or sit them up immediately after cuffing. Had Chauvin done this and GF died anyway, Chauvin would be in a much better situation now.
I don't think malice can be proven. It's not even necessary for murder 2. Defense may well be able to get it to involuntary or negligent manslaughter. Defense hasn't had their turn to call any witnesses yet, will be interesting to see if they can build a case for not guilty with everything that's been established with evidence already.
positional asphyxiation, and the amount of weight dispersed on the back or neck is extremely important in those cases. Ironically, weight on the upper back can be lethal, but the back of the neck really isn't. When I first saw the video, I initially believed that the officer behind Chauvin had killed Floyd by pressing on his back.
Expert testimony to these points is really interesting! Positional asphyxiation can occur with NO weight applied, but needs hands cuffed behind the back. Depending where pressure is applied the neck can be pretty impervious, or when your head is turned to your side it can close your airway via soft tissue.
GF's head was turned to the side most of the time; the whole team of prosecutors didn't jump on this to even try to establish how much time in either position.
Not only can weight impede breathing further almost anywhere on the back, but pressure in from the side does too. This further reduces the size of the smallest part of our airway via soft tissue.
Expert testimony said that without "Police subdual, restraint, and compression" there is no evidence to suggest GF would have died. Note that this is the exact opposite of your conclusion. It's not yet established as fact, defense hasn't had their turn to call any witnesses yet.
Expert testimony also establishes it is GF's arteries in his heart being restricted (heart disease) that contributed to his death. One restricted 75%, the other 90%. Heart attack is ruled out, even heart attack caused by stress. GF's heart was also too big due to high blood pressure, but only by less than 4%. Contributed to death. I don't know if murder can be convicted with other contributing factors of death like this?
Expert testimony disproves basically all your thoughts here:
Asphyxiation does not mean what you think it does. You can die from OD and still asphyxiate. Low or no oxygen is established as cause of death. Asphyxiation is only one of many words for it.
OD is ruled out. Fentanyl OD is a coma, GF never entered a coma.
Completely wrong. Once a cop takes someone into their custody, they are under that cop's care. This adds a wrinkle to the case since Chauvin wasn't even there when GF was cuffed.
Fentanyl reduces breathing. Still under the cop's care. Your thinking is exactly backwards. High levels of fent reduces respiratory rate, which was timed at 22 breaths per minute, the top end of normal.
MRT (maximal restraint technique) in their manual was shown. It's nothing like what Chauvin did.
Training is specifically to either roll the perp onto their side or sit them up immediately after cuffing. Had Chauvin done this and GF died anyway, Chauvin would be in a much better situation now.
I don't think malice can be proven. It's not even necessary for murder 2. Defense may well be able to get it to involuntary or negligent manslaughter. Defense hasn't had their turn to call any witnesses yet, will be interesting to see if they can build a case for not guilty with everything that's been established with evidence already.
Expert testimony to these points is really interesting! Positional asphyxiation can occur with NO weight applied, but needs hands cuffed behind the back. Depending where pressure is applied the neck can be pretty impervious, or when your head is turned to your side it can close your airway via soft tissue.
GF's head was turned to the side most of the time; the whole team of prosecutors didn't jump on this to even try to establish how much time in either position.
Not only can weight impede breathing further almost anywhere on the back, but pressure in from the side does too. This further reduces the size of the smallest part of our airway via soft tissue.
Expert testimony said that without "Police subdual, restraint, and compression" there is no evidence to suggest GF would have died. Note that this is the exact opposite of your conclusion. It's not yet established as fact, defense hasn't had their turn to call any witnesses yet.
Expert testimony also establishes it is GF's arteries in his heart being restricted (heart disease) that contributed to his death. One restricted 75%, the other 90%. Heart attack is ruled out, even heart attack caused by stress. GF's heart was also too big due to high blood pressure, but only by less than 4%. Contributed to death. I don't know if murder can be convicted with other contributing factors of death like this?
Not an easy case in any way.