A WITNESS has told Derek Chauvin’s murder trial that he “called the police on the police” after seeing the ex-cop kneeling on George Floyd until he was unresponsive.
Donald Williams, 33, returned to complete his testimony on the second day of the trial on Tuesday, wiping away tears as he recalled witnessing Floyd's death.
He told the Hennepin County Court that he saw Chauvin, 45, use a "blood choke" on 46-year-old Floyd as the two wrestled to the ground.
Willams, the third witness called on Monday, said the Minneapolis police officers ignored his warnings and Floyd as struggled to breath.
"I watched the position one, of where the position of the knee was on the neck, two, what body movements was going on while the knee was on the neck," Williams said.
"And three, what was the condition of George Floyd as he was going through this torture."
"I felt the officer on top was shimmying to actually get the final choke in while he was on top," said Williams, referring to his training as a mixed martial arts fighter to call such a hold a "blood chokehold."
Williams recalled what Floyd told Chauvin: "My stomach hurts, I can't breathe, my head hurts, I want my mom."
The 33-year-old Williams then added that Floyd was pleading for his life with Chauvin, saying, "He said he wanted to get in the car, he said he's sorry for what he did."
Williams compared Floyd to a fish he had spoken about catching earlier in his testimony.
"You see Floyd fade away like the fish in the bag," Williams said. "He vocalized that he can't breathe and 'I'm sorry.' His eyes rolled back in his head."
The first day of the trial ended early on Monday due to technical difficulties, leaving Williams testimony cut short.
He is expected to be cross-examined by the defense on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, Chauvin's defense team had argued that Floyd's death was not cause by the the ex-cop kneeling on his neck.
In his opening statement, attorney Eric Nelson claimed that there were "many issues" at play, including the drugs in Floyd's system and heart disease.
The prosecution had it out at claims Floyd died of an overdose as bogus.
"He did not died from a drug overdose, he did not die of an opioid overdose," said attorney Jerry Blackwell.
In his opening statement, Blackwell focused heavily on the video of Floyd's death and claimed Chauvin had "betrayed his badge" through his actions.
Two other witnesses also took the stand.
The first was Jena Scurry, a 911 dispacther who had called Chauvin's sergeant after becoming concerned over what she could see of the arrest through surveillance footage.
The second was 23-year-old Alisha Oyler, who was working at a gas station across from the arrest and recorded several social media videos as the ambulance arrived.
Chauvin is facing charges of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter.
His trial is expected to last four weeks.
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