A man who allegedly sold drugs to George Floyd plans to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, according to a document filed Wednesday night in the Derek Chauvin trial.
Morries Lester Hall, whose name was spelled as “Maurice” in some early reports, was with Floyd on the day of his death and allegedly sold him drugs in the past.
“Mr. Morries Lester Hall, through undersigned counsel, hereby provides notice to all parties in this matter that if called to testify he will invoke his fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination,” a public defender said in the notice filed with the court.
Police body-camera videos show Hall sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with Floyd prior to Floyd’s arrest.
Courteney Batya Ross, Floyd’s former girlfriend, testified to the fact that both she and Floyd purchased “controlled substances” from Hall.
In one body-camera video, Floyd appears to say he was “just hooping earlier.” Defense counsel Eric Nelson has previously argued that Floyd thereby admitted to using drugs, since “hooping” is slang for ingesting drugs rectally. The Hennepin County medical examiner found potentially lethal doses of fentanyl and meth in Floyd’s blood.
WATCH: Video where officer asks Floyd about foaming at the mouth. Floyd replies he was ‘hooping’ earlier. pic.twitter.com/AFhUsgm0YK
— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) April 1, 2021
According to the Daily Mail, Hall was wanted on charges of felony possession of a firearm, felony domestic assault, and felony drug possession at the time of Floyd’s death.
A June New York Times report says Hall provided officers with a false name at the scene of Floyd’s death. Hall left Minneapolis two days after Floyd’s death and hitchhiked to Houston.
“I walk with Floyd,” Hall told the Times. “I know that I’m going to be his voice.”
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
