In his latest filing, Chauvin highlights Dr. Andrew Baker’s autopsy report, which was done just a day after George Floyd’s passing. Dr. Baker concluded that Floyd died from “cardiopulmonary arrest, complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression,” explicitly noting no signs of asphyxia. But here’s the kicker: four other doctors, reviewing Baker’s findings, pointed to asphyxia as the cause, reportedly basing their conclusions on video footage of Floyd being restrained by officers.
To bolster his appeal, Chauvin brought in medical experts from the Forensic Panel. They’re ready to testify that the methods used by the doctors who presented evidence during the trial “is not generally accepted in the scientific community.” He also enlisted a forensic analyst from Critical Incident Review to highlight the limitations of the video evidence, trying to poke holes in the prosecution’s case.
Chauvin’s filing also asserts that he was denied his fundamental right to due process because of how the court handled things. Meanwhile, during the original trial, Dr. Martin Tobin, a leading expert in respiratory science, testified for the state—and he did it without any payment. Dr. Tobin, after reviewing medical records and the heartbreaking videos of the fatal arrest, concluded that Floyd “died from a low level of oxygen,” which tragically led to brain damage and a PEA (pulseless electrical activity) arrhythmia, causing his heart to stop.
Currently, Derek Chauvin is serving out his time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Big Spring, Texas. He’s slated for release from federal prison in November 2037, a date that still feels a long way off for a case that deeply impacted so many.
