Defense in George Floyd federal civil rights trial says his death was a tragedy, not a crime

A defense attorney at the federal trial of three Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights said during closing arguments Tuesday that Floyd's death was a tragedy, but not necessarily a crime.

Robert Paule said officers at the scene were doing what was best for Floyd — holding him until paramedics arrived. And he said his client, Tou Thao, did not willfully act "with a bad purpose or improper motive to disobey or disregard the law."

Thao was watching bystanders and traffic as the other officers at the scene held down Floyd.