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GEORGE FLOYD

George Floyd: officer bodycam transcript - "You're going to kill me"

"Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead," Floyd said during the nearly nine minutes that the officer knelt on him as he went lifeless.

Estados UnidosUpdate:
George Floyd suplicó 20 veces por su vida a los oficiales de policía
Facebook / AP

The former U.S. police officer charged in the death of George Floyd told him to stop shouting and save his breath as he knelt on his neck and Floyd gasped for air, according to a newly released transcript of police body camera footage.

George Floyd police transcript from bodycam

The death of Floyd, a black man, in police custody on 25 May led to anti-racism protests and demonstrations against police brutality across the United States and around the world with protesters calling for racial equality and police reforms.

"Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead," Floyd said during the nearly nine minutes that the officer knelt on him as he went lifeless.

Floyd pleaded for help as he was pinned to the ground, according to the transcript made public on Wednesday as part of a motion filed in the Minneapolis state court.

Police officers look on as demonstrators march along a street in protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in New York City, New York, U.S., 5 June 2020.
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Police officers look on as demonstrators march along a street in protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in New York City, New York, U.S., 5 June 2020.Eduardo MunozREUTERS

"I'm through, through. I'm claustrophobic. My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts. I need some water or something, please. Please? I can't breathe officer," he said.

"You're going to kill me, man," Floyd said.

Derek Chauvin, the officer who knelt on Floyd, replied: "Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk."

(L-R) ex-officers Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Kiernan Lane.
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(L-R) ex-officers Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Kiernan Lane.HANDOUTAFP

Chauvin, who is white, was arrested on 29 May, four days after Floyd's death. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Three other former Minneapolis police officers, who are white, Black and Asian American, have been charged with aiding and abetting in the case.

At one point, one of those officers, Thomas Lane, suggested that Chauvin roll Floyd on his side, according to the transcript.

"No, he's staying put where we got him," Chauvin responded.

A woman walks with a protective face covering past a mural of George Floyd, along 125th street in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York City, New York, U.S., 9 July 2020.
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A woman walks with a protective face covering past a mural of George Floyd, along 125th street in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York City, New York, U.S., 9 July 2020.SHANNON STAPLETONREUTERS

All four of the officers have been fired from the Minneapolis police department. None of them entered a plea during a brief hearing on 29 June.

The transcript was made public as part of an effort by Lane's lawyer to have charges that he aided and abetted Floyd's murder thrown out by a judge, according to U.S. media.