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2. Is it true the defense argued instead that Floyd died because his head was near the car’s exhaust and carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause?
Partly—but not as the central argument.
Defense testimony (Dr. David Fowler): He pointed to multiple possible factors contributing to Floyd’s death—heart disease, fentanyl/methamphetamine use, stress of restraint, a rare tumor, possible carbon monoxide exposure from vehicle exhaust, and more. He classified the manner of death as “undetermined”, rather than homicide
CBS News
WBBH
Star Tribune
.
Fowler said he believed Floyd’s face was near a tailpipe and that even a low level of carbon monoxide exposure could reduce oxygen capacity—adding to the “brick wall” of contributing stressors
Star Tribune
WBBH
.
However, the defense’s carbon monoxide argument was challenged severely:
The prosecution cross‑examined Fowler, pointing out no toxicology tests confirmed carbon monoxide in Floyd’s system, the squad car was a gas‑electric hybrid, and there was no data confirming the car was running or emitting CO
WBBH
The Guardian
.
Prosecution closing argument: Dr. Tobin dismantled the CO theory, explaining the hybrid car, outdoors, catalytic converter, and lack of evidence meant CO was not a cause. He stated it was “simply wrong” and pointed to clear evidence of asphyxia instead
Rev
The Guardian
.
So yes, the defense included carbon monoxide as one among several speculative contributing factors, but they did not—and could not—use it successfully as the main or substitute cause of death.
