Morries Hall invokes his Fifth Amendment constitutional right against self-incrimination during the 13th day of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 14, 2021.
Judge Lets Man Who Was With George Floyd on Day He Died Avoid Taking Stand
BY ZACHARY STIEBER
April 14, 2021
A Minnesota judge on Wednesday ruled that a man who was in George Floyd’s vehicle on the day Floyd died does not have to answer a single question during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
Morries Hall has described himself as a “key witness” to the fateful events of May 25, 2020. Body camera footage from police officers showed him sitting in Floyd’s passenger seat. But even acknowledging that he was in Floyd’s car when officers approached it near Cup Foods could open Hall up to criminal charges, his public defender, Adrienne Cousins, argued.
Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, included in his proposed questions, “After conducting your business in Cup Foods, did you return to the vehicle with Mr. Floyd?”
“Mr. Hall cannot answer that question. Mr. Hall cannot put himself in that car with Mr. Floyd. This was a car that was searched twice, and drugs were recovered twice. If Mr. Hall puts himself in that car, he exposes himself to constructive possession charges,” Cousins told Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill in the county courthouse.
Hall would face charges even if Chauvin were acquitted of the three charges, including second-degree murder, against him, she added. Hall could potentially be charged with third-degree murder.
Nelson also sought to ask Hall if he noticed a change in Floyd’s behavior in the vehicle, to describe the behavior, and whether he told Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents that Floyd was drowsy or asleep.
Experience the best way to read The Epoch Times online. Try our free app for a limited time.
Hall was interviewed by agents upon being apprehended in Texas several days after Floyd’s death. Hall fled to the state and was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
MOST READ
Judge Lets Man Who Was With George Floyd on Day He Died Avoid Taking Stand
California County to Launch Digital Vaccine Passport Pilot
He is currently in jail on charges in a separate case.
Hall sold drugs to Floyd, Floyd’s girlfriend Courteney Ross told the court on April 1.
Epoch Times Photo
In this still image from police body camera video, Morries Hall is seen in the passenger seat of George Floyd’s car in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 25, 2020. (Minneapolis Police Department)
RELATED
Derek Chauvin Used 'Unreasonable' Force on George Floyd, Expert Says
Derek Chauvin Used 'Unreasonable' Force on George Floyd, Expert Says
Hall, in street clothes, was then told to address the judge. He said he was not willing to answer any of the proposed questions.
“Why would you not answer those?” Cahill asked.
“I am fearful of criminal charges going forward. I have open charges that’s not settled yet of my personal stuff,” Hall responded, before confirming he planned to invoke his Fifth Amendment right.
Cahill then ruled in favor of Hall, the latest in a series of rulings against the defense.
“I’m going to advise both sides to file your proposed questions … but I am finding that he has a complete Fifth Amendment privilege here,” the judge said.
“I had earlier said that possibly he could talk about how Mr. Floyd looked in the car, but counsel’s argument is persuasive that that could provide a link. And since it’s not just evidence that would incriminate a person but also provide a link to incriminating, I do find that his invocation of his Fifth Amendment right is valid and I am going to quash the subpoena.”
Cahill said Monday that he would not let the defense play any clips from Hall’s interview with law enforcement agents last year, because he found Hall was not necessarily a trustworthy witness.
Follow Zachary on Twitter: @zackstieber
Follow Zachary on Parler: @zackstieber
The Epoch Times
Morries Hall invokes his Fifth Amendment constitutional right against self-incrimination during the 13th day of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 14, 2021.
Judge Lets Man Who Was With George Floyd on Day He Died Avoid Taking Stand BY ZACHARY STIEBER April 14, 2021
A Minnesota judge on Wednesday ruled that a man who was in George Floyd’s vehicle on the day Floyd died does not have to answer a single question during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
Morries Hall has described himself as a “key witness” to the fateful events of May 25, 2020. Body camera footage from police officers showed him sitting in Floyd’s passenger seat. But even acknowledging that he was in Floyd’s car when officers approached it near Cup Foods could open Hall up to criminal charges, his public defender, Adrienne Cousins, argued.
Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, included in his proposed questions, “After conducting your business in Cup Foods, did you return to the vehicle with Mr. Floyd?”
“Mr. Hall cannot answer that question. Mr. Hall cannot put himself in that car with Mr. Floyd. This was a car that was searched twice, and drugs were recovered twice. If Mr. Hall puts himself in that car, he exposes himself to constructive possession charges,” Cousins told Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill in the county courthouse.
Hall would face charges even if Chauvin were acquitted of the three charges, including second-degree murder, against him, she added. Hall could potentially be charged with third-degree murder.
Nelson also sought to ask Hall if he noticed a change in Floyd’s behavior in the vehicle, to describe the behavior, and whether he told Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents that Floyd was drowsy or asleep.
Experience the best way to read The Epoch Times online. Try our free app for a limited time.
Hall was interviewed by agents upon being apprehended in Texas several days after Floyd’s death. Hall fled to the state and was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
MOST READ Judge Lets Man Who Was With George Floyd on Day He Died Avoid Taking Stand California County to Launch Digital Vaccine Passport Pilot He is currently in jail on charges in a separate case.
Hall sold drugs to Floyd, Floyd’s girlfriend Courteney Ross told the court on April 1.
Epoch Times Photo In this still image from police body camera video, Morries Hall is seen in the passenger seat of George Floyd’s car in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 25, 2020. (Minneapolis Police Department) RELATED Derek Chauvin Used 'Unreasonable' Force on George Floyd, Expert Says Derek Chauvin Used 'Unreasonable' Force on George Floyd, Expert Says Hall, in street clothes, was then told to address the judge. He said he was not willing to answer any of the proposed questions.
“Why would you not answer those?” Cahill asked.
“I am fearful of criminal charges going forward. I have open charges that’s not settled yet of my personal stuff,” Hall responded, before confirming he planned to invoke his Fifth Amendment right.
Cahill then ruled in favor of Hall, the latest in a series of rulings against the defense.
“I’m going to advise both sides to file your proposed questions … but I am finding that he has a complete Fifth Amendment privilege here,” the judge said.
“I had earlier said that possibly he could talk about how Mr. Floyd looked in the car, but counsel’s argument is persuasive that that could provide a link. And since it’s not just evidence that would incriminate a person but also provide a link to incriminating, I do find that his invocation of his Fifth Amendment right is valid and I am going to quash the subpoena.”
Cahill said Monday that he would not let the defense play any clips from Hall’s interview with law enforcement agents last year, because he found Hall was not necessarily a trustworthy witness.
Follow Zachary on Twitter: @zackstieber Follow Zachary on Parler: @zackstieber
TOP NEWS Judge Lets Man Who Was With George Floyd on Day He Died Avoid Taking Stand Judge Lets Man Who Was With George Floyd on Day He Died Avoid Taking Stand NEWsharecomments2 Fauci: ‘Strong Similarities’ Between Post-Vaccination Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca Blood Clots Fauci: ‘Strong Similarities’ Between Post-Vaccination Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca Blood Clots NEWshare24comments16 Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Sentenced to 4 Months Imprisonment Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Sentenced to 4 Months Imprisonment 1HRshare7comments3 Biden to Announce He Will Withdraw All American Troops From Afghanistan Biden to Announce He Will Withdraw All American Troops From Afghanistan 1HRshare38comments88 Video: Live Q&A: Epoch Times Hong Kong Attacked, Global Lawmakers Respond; Trump on Supreme Court Packing Video: Live Q&A: Epoch Times Hong Kong Attacked, Global Lawmakers Respond; Trump on Supreme Court Packing 2HRshare2comments1 From Around the Web The Epoch Times Copyright © 2000 - 2021