The former US police officer charged in
the death of George Floyd told him to stop shouting and save his
breath as he knelt on his neck and Floyd gasped for air,
according to a newly released transcript of police body camera
footage.
The death of Floyd, a black man, in police custody on May 25
led to anti-racism protests and demonstrations against police
brutality across the United States and around the world with
protesters calling for racial equality and police reforms.
"Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead," Floyd said during the
nearly nine minutes that the officer knelt on him as he went
lifeless.
Floyd pleaded for help as he was pinned to the ground,
according to the transcript made public on Wednesday as part of
a motion filed in the Minneapolis state court.
"I'm through, through. I'm claustrophobic. My stomach hurts.
My neck hurts. Everything hurts. I need some water or something,
please. Please? I can't breathe officer," he said.
"You're going to kill me, man," Floyd said.
This frame from video, a Minneapolis officer kneels on the neck of George Floyd, a handcuffed man who was pleading that he could not breathe. Picture: Darnella Frazier via AP
Derek Chauvin, the officer who knelt on Floyd, replied:
"Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of
oxygen to talk."
Chauvin, who is white, was arrested on May 29, four days
after Floyd's death. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of
second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Three other former Minneapolis police officers, who are
white, Black and Asian American, have been charged with aiding
and abetting in the case.
At one point, one of those officers, Thomas Lane, suggested
that Chauvin roll Floyd on his side, according to the
transcript.
"No, he's staying put where we got him," Chauvin responded.
All four of the officers have been fired from the
Minneapolis police department. None of them entered a plea
during a brief hearing on June 29.
The transcript was made public as part of an effort by
Lane's lawyer to have charges that he aided and abetted Floyd's
murder thrown out by a judge, according to US media.