The third anniversary since George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis, all four of the former-police officers involved in the kneeling killing have finally been fully held accountable for their actions and inactions on that fateful day.
Thomas Lane, who held down George Floyd's legs while Derek Chauvin committed murder, had murder charges against him dropped in exchange for a plea deal that could see the ex-Minneapolis police officer released in two years.
Prosecutors revealed that they offered plea deals to former officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, according to NBC News. The specifics of the deals were not revealed by lead prosecutor Matthew Frank, but it was revealed that the defendants rejected their deals.
The guilty verdicts for former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao for violating George Floyd's civil rights should send a clear message to members of law enforcement who ignore their sworn duties, civil rights leaders said.
A mostly white jury was selected in the case for Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao, the three ex-Minneapolis cops who, along with Derek Chauvin, were involved in George Floyd's death. Judge Paul Magnuson said, “There is absolutely nothing about the subject of religion, race or ethnicity that’s involved in this case.”
Jury selection begins Thursday in the federal trial for the three ex-cops who stood idle as Derek Chauvin put his knee on the neck of George Floyd.
A federal grand indicted the four former Minneapolis police officers involved in George Floyd's arrest and death, stating that they violated Floyd's constitutional rights after he was arrested and restrained by the use of excessive, deadly force.
George Floyd's family and their lawyers ripped the defense team as the Hennepin County attorney were disqualified from prosecuting the case during a pretrial hearing.
On behalf of the family of George Floyd, attorney Benjamin Crump is suing the city of Minneapolis as well as all four of the cops involved in the Memorial Day police homicide.
A transcript from Thomas Lane's bodycam during his deadly encounter with George Floyd showed the cop was extremely hostile from the beginning despite responding to a report of a nonviolent crime.
Moving George Floyd's case out of Minneapolis could mean less diverse jury pools that are more sympathetic to police officers, thus increasing the chances of acquittals or mistrials.
Thomas Lane, who was charged with felony aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in George Floyd's killing, walked out of the Hennepin County jail after his $750,000 bail was paid.
