George Floyd’s friend who was with him when he was arrested is trying to avoid testifying. 

Morries Lester Hall, a friend of George Floyd’s who was in a car with him on May 25, moments before the police pulled Mr. Floyd out of the car and pinned him to the ground, is hoping to avoid testifying in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin.

Mr. Hall, who is currently in jail on charges unrelated to Mr. Floyd’s death, appeared in court by video conference on Tuesday morning for a hearing over whether he can be forced to testify. A lawyer for Mr. Hall said prosecutors and Mr. Chauvin’s lawyer had subpoenaed him, and she noted that Mr. Chauvin’s lawyer had mentioned Mr. Hall in opening statements.

Last week, Mr. Hall’s lawyer filed a notice with the court saying that, if subpoenaed to testify, Mr. Hall would invoke his Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate himself. Because he would not give substantial testimony, Mr. Hall’s lawyer argued, he should not be forced to take the stand.

Judge Peter A. Cahill, who has overseen the trial, is expected to decide on whether prosecutors can force Mr. Hall to take the stand after hearing arguments on Tuesday morning.