‘Excited delirium’ emerges as key issue in trial of officers accused over George Floyd death

The three junior officers are also accused of failing to intervene to stop Derek Chauvin from murdering George Floyd. Their criminal trial is due later this year. Photograph: Cedric Hohnstadt/AP

Use of the controversial label “excited delirium” by first responders when subduing people exhibiting signs of severe agitation has emerged as a key issue in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd.

Tou Thao, J Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane are accused of depriving Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, of his civil rights by failing to give him medical aid while he was handcuffed and lying facedown as their senior colleague Derek Chauvin proceeded to murder him on 25 May 2020.