George Floyd’s little brother, Philonise Floyd, took the stand today as prosecutors wrapped up their case against Derek Chauvin (watch above). The Associated Press writes that he “lovingly recalled how his older brother used to make the best banana mayonnaise sandwiches, how George drilled him in catching a football, and the way George used to mark his height on the wall as a boy because he wanted to grow taller.”
Floyd got emotional as he was shown a picture of his brother and mother, “I miss both of them.” He called George Floyd, “a leader in the household.”
“He showed us how to treat our mom, how to respect our mom… He loved her so dearly.”
Philonise Floyd breaks down crying at the image of a young George Floyd being cradled as a child by his mother.
Philonise is doing now in court what he has been doing publicly since last year — humanizing his brother and personalizing what his loss has meant.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) April 12, 2021
The New York Times writes:
“Spark of life” testimonies, like that of Philonise Floyd’s, are generally not allowed, but Minnesota courts allow them as a way to present a fuller picture of victims as human beings — personalities and all.
The defense is expected to start calling witnesses tomorrow and closing arguments are expected to start early next week.
