A defence expert witness testified that former police officer Derek Chauvin's actions in the lead up to the death of George Floyd were 'justified,' at Chauvin's murder trial in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

"I felt that Derek Chauvin was justified, was acting with objective reasonableness, following Minneapolis Police Department policy and current standards of law enforcement and his interactions with Mr. Floyd," said Brodd, a use of force expert and former police officer.

However, later, prosecutor Steve Schleicher challenged Brodd's arguments, getting him to agree on critical issues relating to the suffering experienced by Floyd.

Previously, Brodd said that he did not consider prone control to be a use of force, but later, when the prosecution asked, he admitted that if the prone position Floyd was in could bring him pain, then it would be a use of force.

Schleicher also got Brodd to agree that 'a reasonable police officer' in Chauvin's position would have recognised that Floyd "was not responsive, not resisting" after he passed out, but Chauvin remained kneeling on his neck.

The trial of the former officer began on March 29. He 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.

The defence is expected to conclude presenting its case by the end of this week, while closing arguments expected for Monday.