The defence attorney in the trial against former police officer Derek Chauvin, accused of murdering George Floyd, gave his opening arguments in Minneapolis on Monday.

Eric Nelson argued that George Floyd's death was partly caused by drugs.

"The evidence will show that Mr Floyd died of a cardiac arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, his coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and the adrenaline flowing through his body, all of which acted to further compromise an already compromised heart," said the defence attorney.

"The evidence will show that when confronted by police, Mr Floyd put drugs in his mouth in an effort to conceal them from the police," he argued.

Nelson asserted that if jurors 'apply reason and common sense' they will find Chauvin not guilty.

Special Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell commented on said drug use during his opening statement, saying "What you will learn is that George Floyd lived for years, day in and day out, every day, with all of these conditions until one day, May 25, when it ended in nine minutes and 29 seconds, and it was the only day he didn't survive."

Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter and third-degree murder after being filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, leading to his death.