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Ex-Minneapolis officer faces sentencing on a state charge for his role in George Floyd’s killing

by Andrew Wright
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fokus keyword: Tou Thao

The final ex-police officer from Minneapolis who was involved in George Floyd’s death is waiting for sentencing in state court, and the decision on Monday will reveal whether he’ll serve more time in jail.

Tou Thao, during his trial, claimed he merely acted as a barrier to keep away onlookers as ex-Officer Derek Chauvin, a white man, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes on May 25, 2020. Floyd, a Black man, was heard in a video recorded by a bystander pleading for his life and repeating that he couldn’t breathe.

The incident involving Floyd sparked international protests and ignited a nationwide debate about police misconduct and racial discrimination.

Thao was found guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in May by Judge Peter Cahill of Hennepin County. In a detailed 177-page judgment, Cahill noted that Thao’s intervention kept the crowd, including a medical technician, away from Chauvin and two other ex-officers, thus permitting them to keep restraining Floyd and hindering bystanders from giving medical help.

Cahill stated that there was undeniable evidence that Thao’s conduct was illogical from a rational police officer’s standpoint. He added that Thao’s actions were especially unreasonable since he had an obligation to prevent the other officers from using excessive force and was trained to provide medical care.

Thao declined a plea deal for the state charge, believing he did nothing wrong, and allowed Cahill to rule on the case using evidence from both Chauvin’s 2021 murder trial and the 2022 federal civil rights trial in which Thao, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander were involved. The federal trial concluded with convictions for all three, and guilty pleas were made by Chauvin, Lane, and Kueng to various other charges.

Minnesota’s guidelines propose a four-year sentence for the manslaughter charge, which would coincide with Thao’s 3 1/2-year federal civil rights conviction, upheld on appeal. Judge Cahill has the flexibility to sentence Thao to anywhere between 41 and 57 months.

Lane and Kueng were given state sentences of 3 and 3 1/2 years, respectively, and they are serving these simultaneously with federal sentences of 2 1/2 years and 3 years. While Thao is of Hmong American descent, Kueng is Black and Lane is white.

In Minnesota, inmates typically serve two-thirds of their sentences in prison and the remaining third on parole. There’s no parole in the federal system, but good behavior may lead to a reduction in sentence time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: Tou Thao

What was Tou Thao’s role in George Floyd’s killing?

Tou Thao has been found guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd. During the incident, he held back concerned bystanders, which allowed his colleagues to continue restraining Floyd.

Who were the other officers involved in the case?

The other officers involved were Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng. All were convicted in connection to George Floyd’s death.

What sentence could Thao face for his state conviction?

Minnesota guidelines recommend a four-year sentence for the manslaughter charge, but the judge has some latitude and could hand down a sentence from 41 to 57 months.

How did the killing of George Floyd impact society?

Floyd’s killing touched off protests worldwide and forced a national reckoning of police brutality and racism.

Did Thao plead guilty to the charges?

No, Thao rejected a plea bargain on the state charge, saying he didn’t think he was in the wrong. He instead agreed to let the judge decide the case based on evidence from previous related trials.

What were the sentences for the other officers, Lane and Kueng?

Lane and Kueng received 3 and 3 1/2-year state sentences respectively, and they are serving these concurrently with their federal sentences of 2 1/2 years and 3 years.

How does the Minnesota prison system handle sentencing?

Minnesota inmates generally serve two-thirds of their sentences in prison and one-third on parole. There’s no parole in the federal system, but good behavior may reduce the sentence time.

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