The week
With Chauvin’s conviction, attention now shifts to 3 other officers who were present during Floyd’s arrest
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday of second degree murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter in George Floyd’s death, but another trial is on the horizon – this time for the three other officers who were part of Floyd’s arrest last May. As it stands, the trial of former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng (27), Thomas Lane (38) and Tou Thao (35) will begin on August 23. second degree murder and second degree manslaughter of Floyd. If convicted, they could face more than 16 years in prison. A hearing is scheduled for May 20 at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, with the attorney general’s office attempting to add a third degree murder charge against Kueng, Lane and Thao. On May 25, 2020, agents responded to a call to Cup Foods in Minneapolis after it was reported that Floyd was allegedly trying to pass a fake $ 20 bill. Footage of Floyd’s arrest shows Chauvin with his knee in Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, and prosecutors say Kueng, who graduated from police academy in 2019, was between Chauvin and Lane at one point, kneeling on Floyd’s back. . When Floyd stopped responding, Kueng checked to see if he had a pulse and reported that he couldn’t find one. Lane, who had only been with the police for a few days, was the officer who told Floyd to get out of his car and put handcuffs on him. Prosecutors say Chauvin, Kueng and Lane all used their weight to keep Floyd on the ground after he resisted attempts to get into the back of a police car. Lane asked at one point if they should turn Floyd over, and Chauvin replied, “No, I’ll stay where we have him.” Thao, who rejoined the police force in 2012 after being fired, arrived at Cup Foods with Chauvin, after Floyd was already shackled. Prosecutors say that although Thao had no physical contact with Floyd, he could see Floyd being held back and not attempting to intervene. All officers were fired and arrested after Floyd’s death. Kueng, Lane and Thao are now on $ 750,000 bail. In January, their trial was split from Chauvin’s due to security measures related to COVID-19. More Stories from theweek.com The New HBO Show You Can’t Stop Watching Former Trump Aids Reportedly Frustrated He Didn’t Make It to Plan to Become the “ Lead Salesman ” of the Vaccine All 40 Movies Nominated for an Oscar This Year, Ranked