Jury in Chauvin trial sees body camera, surveillance footage for first time

Jurors viewed police body camera footage for the first time Wednesday, the third day of the trial of former Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd.

Footage of Floyd at Cup Foods at 38th and Chicago shortly before his death was also shown to jurors and the public for the first time.

Chauvin, who kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes during the arrest on May 25, is charged with third and second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Witnesses included Charles McMillian, a 61-year-old man who arrived at the scene while Floyd was in custody. McMillian can be heard on video taken at the scene urging Floyd to comply with officers and get in the squad car, saying: "You can't win, man."

Jurors were also shown Chauvin’s body camera footage from the incident, though his camera fell off during the arrest.

But McMillian can be heard on the body camera footage approaching Chauvin after the incident. McMillian said he approached Chauvin because what he witnessed on the scene was “wrong.”

“That’s one person’s opinion,” Chauvin can be heard saying in the body camera footage. “That’s a sizable guy … it looks like he’s probably on something.”

McMillian broke down in tears during testimony and while watching the videos. Jurors also saw body camera footage from former MPD officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao.

The three other officers are facing charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Police were initially called to the scene after Floyd reportedly attempted to use a fake $20 bill at Cup Foods near 38th Avenue and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis.

Christopher Martin, who also lived above Cup Foods, was working as a store clerk when Floyd attempted to buy cigarettes with the bill. In store footage from the time of the incident, Floyd can be seen walking around the store and talking with people for several minutes.

The now 19-year-old Martin said the bill Floyd gave him had a blue pigment and appeared to be fake, but the transaction was completed and Floyd left the store. Martin said he could be docked pay for accepting the fake bill.

Chauvin’s defense attorney Eric Nelson questioned Martin about Floyd’s behavior in the store. Nelson asked Martin if Floyd had delayed speech and appeared to be under the influence of drugs, which Martin confirmed.

After further examining the bill, Martin said he alerted his manager, who told him to bring Floyd back to the store.

Martin can be seen in surveillance footage walking out of the store to stop Floyd twice.

In an emotional testimony, Martin expressed guilt about his role in the incident.

“If I would have just not taken the bill, this could have been avoided,” Martin testified.

According to a statement from Cup Foods obtained by Court TV, the store’s protocol is typically not to send employees outside over fake bills, but Martin had a close enough relationship with Floyd to merit it.