Jury Deliberation Begins In Trial Over Death Of George Floyd

ST. PAUL, MN — The fate of three former Minneapolis police officers federally charged in the death of George Floyd is now in the hands of the jury. The prosecution and defense teams gave their closing arguments Tuesday.

Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao face civil rights violations in Floyd's death, including denying Floyd medical aid. Former officer Chauvin was also charged, but he pleaded guilty in December and will not have to stand trial.

The three-count indictment claims that the four men — acting in their capacity as police officers — "willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional rights" while Floyd was in their custody.

Their actions resulted in Floyd's death, the indictment states.

"They chose to do nothing, and their choice resulted in Mr. Floyd’s death," prosecutor Manda Sertich said in her closing argument.

The three defense attorneys for each former officer shifted the blame for Floyd's death onto Chauvin and a lack of quality training.

"I’m not trying to say he wasn’t trained," Kueng’s attorney, Thomas Plunkett, said in his closing statement. "I’m saying the training was inadequate to help him see, perceive and understand what was happening here."

Defense attorney Earl Gray said Lane was "very concerned" about Floyd. Lane suggested that Chavuin roll Floyd onto his side so he could breathe, but Chauvin said no.

Robert Paule, who represents Thao, said his client reasonably believed Floyd was on drugs and needed to be restrained until an ambulance arrived.

Even after the federal trial is complete, Kueng, Lane, and Thao still face charges of aiding and abetting unintentional second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the Minnesota state court system.

Federal indictment

Count one

Count one specifically notes that Chauvin held his left knee on Floyd's neck — and his right knee on Floyd's back and arm — while Floyd was handcuffed and not resisting. Chauvin kept his knees on Floyd's body even after he became unresponsive, the count states.
The indictment claims that Chauvin's actions violated Floyd's constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer.

Count two

Count two of the indictment claims Thao and Kueng "willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin's use of unreasonable force."

Count three

Count three of the indictment claims that all four ex-officers watched Floyd lying on the ground "in clear need of medical care and willfully failed to aid him."

All four officers "willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, which includes an arrestee's right to be free from a police officer's deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs," the indictment states.

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

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

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.