Federal trial for 3 ex-officers charged in Floyd’s death to begin Thursday
[Photo: Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. From left: Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao.]
(KSTP) – A federal civil rights trial involving three former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd is set to begin Thursday.
The trial will be held at the federal courthouse in downtown St. Paul.
For the latest updates visit the KSTP website.
A federal grand jury indicted Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao in May last year for allegedly depriving Floyd of his rights while acting under government authority on May 25, 2020.
Thao and Kueng are also charged with willfully depriving Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable force by failing to stop fellow former officer Derek Chauvin from pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck. Lane does not face that specific charge.
Chauvin pleaded guilty in December to a federal count of violating Floyd’s civil rights during the May 25, 2020 arrest.
The federal charges are separate from the charges the state of Minnesota has brought against the former officers related to the death of Floyd.
Judge Peter Cahill has ruled to allow live streamed coverage of the federal trial.
During the trial, some streets around the courthouse will be closed, and parking will also be limited.
St. Paul city leaders also announced information regarding public safety will be available online for residents.