Judge Allows Derek Chauvin’s Legal Team to Inspect George Floyd’s Heart to Test Alternative Theory

A federal judge granted Derek Chauvin’s defense attorneys permission to examine George Floyd’s heart tissue in an effort to substantiate their theory that Floyd died of an underlying heart condition, not from the pressure that Chauvin applied to his neck during the ill-fated arrest four years ago.

U.S. District judge Paul Magnuson issued the order on Monday, allowing the former Minneapolis police officer’s legal team to inspect heart tissue and fluid samples taken during Floyd’s autopsy. The motion represents Chauvin’s latest effort to overturn his 2022 federal conviction.

Floyd died in May 2020 in Minneapolis after Chauvin kneeled on and pinned his neck to the ground for over nine minutes. The incident was captured on video, sparking violent protests across the U.S. over concerns of police brutality and racial injustice.