Irish medical expert makes global headlines at Derek Chauvin trial

Dr Martin Tobin

The jury yesterday heard from Dr Martin Tobin, a world-leading expert in breathing who hails from Co Kilkenny and studied medicine at University College Dublin (UCD).

Black Lives Matter protests took place across the US and the world last summer after George Floyd, a black man, died while white police officer Mr Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine minutes.

Mr Chauvin’s trial is being closely watched as an indicator of how the US courts will treat police killings in future and whether a long-running trend of acquittals for officers accused of serious conduct will continue.

Dr Tobin told the trial that Mr Floyd died from a lack of oxygen during his arrest, rejecting defence arguments that his death was caused by the drug fentanyl, which was found in his system.

He said even a “healthy person … would have died”, and that Mr Floyd had taken his last breath around three minutes before Mr Chauvin removed his knee.

“The knee remains on the neck for another three minutes and 27 seconds after he takes his last breath,” he said.

“After the officers have found themselves that there’s no pulse, the knee remains on the neck for another two minutes and 44 seconds.”

Dr Tobin gave evidence on the ninth day of the trial, which continues.