Floyd’s Drug Use, Prior Arrest Central to Murder Defense (2)

George Floyd had a history of drug use and confrontations with the police, witnesses said as the attorney for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin began his defense in the murder trial.

Shawanda Hill, a passenger in the car with Floyd on the day he died, testified Tuesday that Floyd was “happy, normal, talkative, alert” when they met in a store, and he offered her a ride home on May 25, 2020. But he fell asleep in the car, becoming lethargic and incoherent when the passengers tried to rouse him, Hill said.

Defense attorney ...