George Floyd’s friend is refusing to testify at trial because he has not received immunity and his testimony could incriminate him in drug dealing and potential third degree murder charges, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Morries Lester Hall, who was in the car along with Floyd the day of his death and is accused of giving him the alleged fake $20 note police were called over, appeared in court via video link to hear the court’s decision on whether or not to grant his motion to quash the subpoena calling for him to give testimony.
Hall
Hall, 42, had last week filed a shock notice with Hennepin County District Court stating his intention to plead the Fifth should he be called to testify by either side.
His bid to avoid testifying was filed the night before Floyd’s girlfriend Courtney Ross took the stand and told jurors that she and Floyd had bought opioids and drugs believed to be speedballs, a mix of methamphetamine and fentanyl, from Hall.
Hall, 42, red cap, who was in the car along with George Floyd, far right, and Shawanda Hill on the day of Floyd’s death
According to Ross, on one occasion when she took pills believed to be bought from Hall she ‘felt like she was going to die.’ Ross also revealed that Floyd had been hospitalized twice in March – on one occasion due to a drug overdose that saw him hospitalized for five days. She said the March pills did not come from Hall.
On Tuesday Hall appeared via media-link from Hennepin County Public Safety Facility where he has been held since his arrest on March 16 on charges of Violating a No Contact Order, Domestic Assault by Strangulation and another felony warrant. His bail was set at $10,000.
Hall had requested to be allowed to wear civilian clothes rather than jail ‘scrubs’ during the appearance and appeared in a suit Tuesday.
Judge Peter Cahill told Chauvin’s defense team to draw up a list of questions they would like to ask Hall by Thursday when he will make a final decision on the matter.
Former Minneapolis police officer Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter after being accused of pinning his knee down on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds last May 25.
He has pleaded not guilty, arguing that he did only what he was trained to do in his 19 years as a cop.