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One of the officers involved in the murder of George Floyd testified in court that he believed the restraint the 46-year-old was held in was "reasonable."
Thomas Lane, one of the three officers standing trial in the federal civil rights violation case, told the court he thought having the weight of three men –– Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Keung, and Lane –– on Floyd's neck and back for more than nine minutes seemed "reasonable."
"It just seemed reasonable at the time," Lane said in court Monday (February 21). "This guy is out of control," he added, stating he thought the ambulance would've arrived on the scene "at any minute."
Lane eventually got emotional on the stand after telling the court he tried to help paramedics when he couldn't find Floyd's pulse. Lane said he attempted to ride in the ambulance with medical personnel when they arrived to the Cup Foods convenience store.
"Why did you want to go along and help?" Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, asked, NBC News reported.
"Just based on how Mr. Floyd turned over, he didn't look good," the 38-year-old police rookie said, holding back tears. "I felt with the situation, they might need a hand." Lane said he asked the other officers if Floyd should be turned over on his back but Chauvin dismissed it.
Lane, Keung, and Tou Thao are all facing civil rights violation charges and denying medical care to Floyd. Each of the men are also facing state charges for aiding and abetting a murder.
Defense attorneys rested their case on Tuesday (February 22) after three weeks of testimony. Next, closing arguments will begin followed by jury deliberation.
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