George Floyd: State Trial Of 2 Ex-Cops Delayed Until January

MINNEAPOLIS — The state trial for two former Minneapolis police officers charged with the death of George Floyd has been delayed once again. The trial had been set to begin next week.

On Monday, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill agreed to the defense's request to move the trial back because of recent events that could make a jury pool especially biased.

Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death on Memorial Day 2020.

Their co-defendant, former officer Thomas Lane, pleaded guilty to the same charges in May. And earlier this year, all three former offices — Lane, Thao, and Kueng — were convicted in federal court of violating Floyd's civil rights.

Cahill said those two events created "a reasonable likelihood of an unfair trial."

Meanwhile, former Derek Chauvin has stood trial by himself. Chauvin was convicted of murder in Floyd's death by a state jury in April 2021 and was sentenced to 22.5 years.

Later that year, Chauvin pleaded guilty to the federal civil rights charges against him. Under the federal plea agreement, Chauvin faces a sentence between 20 and 25 years in prison. He has not yet been sentenced.

The death of George Floyd

Just after 8 p.m. on Memorial Day 2020, police responded to the Cup Foods store on 38th Street and Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis for a report of a "forgery in progress."

Outside the store, police told Floyd he was under arrest.

In a video seen around the world, Floyd is heard telling officers, "I can't breathe," while he is forced down onto the street. He also asks for water.

Bystanders yelled at Chauvin to get off of Floyd, while officers Kueng and Lane assisted Chauvin. Meanwhile, Thao ordered people, including an off-duty EMS worker, to back away from the scene.

Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck even after he went motionless. His knee was on Floyd for a total of 9 minutes and 29 seconds.

All four officers who were at the scene were fired the next day and later criminally charged.

Floyd's death sparked street violence and protests for police reform in Minneapolis and across the United States and the world.

Also read: Here's How The Police Initially Described George Floyd's Death

Reporting from The Associated Press was used in this story.