Federal prosecutors have strongly opposed Derek Chauvin’s request to test heart and fluid samples from George Floyd’s autopsy, asserting that there is no legal justification for the request. Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering Floyd, is seeking to run tests on these samples in an attempt to argue that a heart condition, rather than his actions, was the cause of Floyd’s death.
In a motion filed on December 18, 2024, prosecutors rebuked Chauvin’s request, describing it as “defies belief” and lacking any legal basis. They argued that if Chauvin had been aware of a medical theory weaker than the one already rejected during his state trial, he would not have chosen to proceed with the trial, especially given the overwhelming evidence against him and the life sentence he faces. Chauvin’s defense team has proposed that Floyd’s death could have been caused by a “catecholamine crisis,” triggered by a paraganglioma, a rare tumor that can lead to excessive secretion of catecholamines, which are hormones that affect heart function. They also suggested that Floyd’s pulmonary edema, a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs, could have been caused by Takotsubo’s myocarditis, a condition similar to a heart attack.
The motion to reconsider came after U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson granted Chauvin’s legal team access to the heart and fluid samples from Floyd’s autopsy on December 17, 2024. Prosecutors, however, argued that this request was based on a medical theory that had already been rejected during Chauvin’s state trial. The prosecutors contended that Chauvin’s defense team had already presented this theory in the past, and it was not persuasive enough to alter the outcome of the trial.
Chauvin’s lawyers had argued that a doctor had previously suggested this medical theory to his former attorney, Eric Nelson, in April 2021, before Chauvin was federally indicted on murder charges. However, nothing was done to follow up on this suggestion, which led to claims that Chauvin’s prior legal counsel had been ineffective. Judge Magnuson had agreed with Chauvin’s argument, stating that Nelson had failed to consult with Chauvin about the potential heart-related defense. However, prosecutors emphasized that the decision not to pursue further testing or explore this theory was a strategic one made by Nelson, based on his experience and prior consultations with experts.
Prosecutors emphasized that the choice not to pursue the heart-related defense was a strategic decision that courts typically recognize as “virtually unchallengeable.” They argued that even if Chauvin could demonstrate that his counsel’s performance was unreasonable, he could not show that it had prejudiced his case. The decision not to pursue the heart condition theory was made after consulting with experts and considering the strength of the evidence against Chauvin during his state trial.
Chauvin was convicted in 2022 of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter for his role in Floyd’s death, which occurred during an arrest on May 25, 2020. Floyd’s death, captured on video, sparked nationwide protests and calls for justice, especially from the Black Lives Matter movement, which highlighted issues of police brutality and racial injustice.
In addition to his state conviction, Chauvin was also convicted of violating Floyd’s civil rights in a separate federal case. He is currently serving concurrent state and federal sentences, totaling more than 20 years in prison. Chauvin has been attempting to appeal his federal civil rights conviction in court after his unsuccessful bid to overturn his murder conviction through the U.S. Supreme Court.
Chauvin’s legal team has also faced criticism for its handling of the case. Prosecutors have repeatedly argued that the defense’s strategies, including the pursuit of a heart-related defense, were ultimately ineffective. Despite this, Chauvin’s legal team continues to explore avenues for appeal, hoping to find new grounds for challenging his convictions.
In November 2023, Chauvin was attacked by another inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution Tucson, where he is being held. The alleged stabbing was said to be a symbolic act related to the Black Lives Matter movement, which had been a central theme in the protests that followed Floyd’s death. This attack on Chauvin added another layer of complexity to his already high-profile case.
The legal battle surrounding Chauvin’s conviction continues, with his defense team seeking to explore new medical theories in an effort to overturn his convictions. However, prosecutors remain firm in their stance, arguing that Chauvin’s request for further testing is without merit and should not be allowed.
