George Floyd’s brother Philonise testifies at Derek Chauvin murder trial
George Floyd’s younger brother remembered him as a “big mama’s boy” during emotional testimony at the murder trial of ex-Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin in his death.
Philonise Floyd, 39, broke down on the witness stand as state prosecutors displayed a photo of the two brothers as youngsters with their mom.
“That’s my mother, she’s not with us right now,” he said, sobbing. “That’s my oldest brother George. I miss both of them.”
Philonise spoke about how close George and their mother were.
“He was a big mama’s boy. It was so unique how they were with each other,” he recalled. “He would lay up onto her in the fetus position like he was still in the womb. Being around him, he showed us how to treat our mom and how to respect our mom. He just — he loved her so dearly.”
The brother also said the end of May is now a rough time of the year for him.
“I was married on May 24th,” he explained. “I got married, and my brother was killed May 25. And my mom died on May 30th.”
“So, it’s like a bittersweet month because I’m supposed to be happy when the month comes,” Philonise said.
Under Minnesota law, prosecutors are allowed to call witnesses to testify about a victim’s life under the state’s “spark of life” statute.
Philonise said his late brother was “a leader to us in the household” who would make snacks for his siblings and “just knew how to make people feel better.”
In the final moments of George’s life, he called out for his mother several times.
“Mama, I love you. Tell my kids I love them. I’m dead,” he said.
The heartbreaking testimony comes as prosecutors wrap up their case against Chauvin this week — opening the door for Chauvin’s defense team to try to sway the jury.
The defense suffered a setback Monday when Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill ruled that Morries Hall, a George Floyd pal who was with him when he died, will not be forced to take the stand at the trial.
Hall filed a motion last week saying he would invoke the Fifth Amendment if called to testify. Testimony at the trial has indicated that Hall had previously sold drugs to Floyd.
He also gave police a phony name on May 25, the day of Floyd’s death, and fled to his native Texas, where he was later taken into custody by Texas marshals and returned.
Cahill ruled that any testimony that Hall could provide that did not violate his right against self-incrimination can be — and has been — presented by other witnesses.