Derek Chauvin's lawyer says jury should hear about George Floyd's 'similar' 2019 arrest when he 'swallowed drugs to avoid having them found by cops' - after search of police car EIGHT MONTHS after his death found 'chewed up tablet' with his DNA
Derek Chauvin trial resumed as Judge Cahill heard defense request to admit 2019 arrest in pretrial motion
Chauvin's lawyers want to introduce body cam footage 2019 incident year before George Floyd's fatal arrest
In May 2019, Floyd allegedly put drugs in his mouth to avoid getting caught by cops during a traffic stop
Last fall, judge rejected attempts by the defense to introduce it as evidence at trial, saying it was irrelevant
But Nelson said that new evidence has come to light indicating that drugs were found after May 2020 arrest
Nelson said his team found drugs with Floyd's DNA on it in the squad car where he was briefly placed last year
According to Nelson, pills found in the police squad car 'were a methamphetamine and fentanyl mixture'
'The entire arrest in May of 2019 ... is remarkably similar in multiple ways from one to the next,' Nelson said
Prosecutors said jury shouldn't hear the evidence since it would be introduced to sully Floyd's reputation
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank accused Nelson of being 'desperate' to smear Floyd's reputation
Chauvin's attorney will argue Floyd's death due to methamphetamines and opioids found in his system
By Laura Collins, Chief Investigative Reporter For Dailymail.com and Ariel Zilber For Dailymail.com and Associated Press
Published: 10:47 EDT, 16 March 2021 | Updated: 13:18 EDT, 16 March 2021
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9367647/Derek-Chauvins-lawyer-says-jury-hear-George-Floyds-2019-arrest.html