State Trial for 3 Ex-Officers Involved in George Floyd’s Death Postponed

News

By Alyssa Wilson Published: January 10, 2022

State Trial for 3 Ex-Officers Involved in George Floyd’s Death Postponed

In Summary

Judge Peter Cahill said the trial could be delayed after defense attorneys and prosecutors requested the date be moved.

UPDATE: Jan. 13, 2022 – 10:00 a.m.

The state trial for three former Minneapolis officers facing charges relating to the death of George Floyd has been delayed.

According to the Star Tribune, the trial for J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao was originally scheduled for March 7. Now, attorneys will meet to select a new date between March 14, 2022, and January 2023.

The former officers face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.

State prosecutors and defense attorneys representing three former Minneapolis police officers facing charges relating to George Floyd’s death filed a motion to delay the start of their state trial on Friday.

According to CNN, the trial for J. Alexander Keung, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, was set to begin on March 7. The joint motion said, “The basis for this request is that the above-named defendants are charged by indictment in federal court with a trial scheduled to begin on January 20, 2022, and it is not known how long that trial will last.”

The three are facing state charges for aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death. They were involved in restraining Floyd during the attempted arrest. Kueng held down Floyd’s torso, Lane restrained his legs and Thao stopped bystanders from getting close as Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck, CNN reported.

Their colleague, former officer Derek Chauvin, was charged with murder and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for Floyd’s death, BNC previously reported. He then pled guilty in federal court for violating Floyd’s civil rights.

The trial was initially delayed by Judge Peter Cahill to allow the federal trial on civil rights charges to go first. Cahill has not yet responded to the request to delay the trial again.

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.  