George Floyd’s brother gives trial testimony through tears: ‘I miss’ him

Philonise Floyd, the 39-year-old brother of George Floyd, took the stand on Monday for an emotional round of testimony at the ongoing trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering his brother.

Floyd spoke through tears during his testimony as he explained the closeness of his brother and their mother.

“I miss both of them,” he said, adding of the two: “[E]very mother loves all of her kids, but it was so unique how they were with each other.”

“He just was like a person everybody loved around the community. He just knew how to make people feel better,” Floyd added.

His testimony came as part of the third week of Chauvin’s trial, which centers on the killing of Floyd last May which was seen by millions online and led to nationwide protests in support of racial justice. Chauvin was fired shortly after Floyd’s death, and now faces charges of third degree “depraved mind” murder, second degree manslaughter, and second degree murder.

Video of Chauvin’s actions during the arrest that led to Floyd’s death showed Chauvin kneeling on the man’s neck for roughly nine minutes, a fact that medical experts who have testified so far in Chauvin’s trial said contributed directly to Floyd’s death.

The state remains braced for demonstrations in response to the trial as well as over the death of another Black man, 20-year-old Daunte Wright, who died on Sunday after being stopped by police and shot during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Police said Monday they believed the officer who shot Wright mistakenly drew her firearm instead of a Taser.