George Floyd claims a teen witness “stays up all night apologizing for not doing anything.”

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The teen whose video of George Floyd’s death ignited worldwide outrage says she “stays up apologizing” to him for “not doing anything.”

Darnella, who is now 18 years old, was one of four young witnesses called on the second day of Derek Chauvin’s trial.

She described Mr. Floyd as “begging for his life” in court, comparing him to her father, brother, cousins, and uncles “because they are all black.”

Issues of racial equality and policing lay at the center of the case.

On Monday, the opening session of the trial heard Mr. Chauvin, an ex-police officer, knelt on Mr. Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes while arresting him in Minneapolis in May 2020. Prosecutors say this was a “major cause” in his death.

Defence lawyers have indicated they will argue that 46-year-old Mr. Floyd died of an overdose. Mr. Chauvin, 45, denies charges of murder and manslaughter.

Three other officers who were present – Tou Thao, J Alexander Keung, and Thomas Lane – will go on trial later in the year.

Abrempong News International