- Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng were convicted on civil rights charges related to George Floyd's death.
- Thao and Keung were also convicted of failing to intervene in Derek Chauvin's unreasonable force.
- The three former officers were accused of failing to administer medical aid to Floyd.
Three former police officers who helped restrain George Floyd were convicted on federal charges of violating Floyd's civil rights on Thursday, according to local reports.
A jury convicted former Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng deprivation of rights under color of law, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The three officers were accused of failing to provide medical aid to Floyd after former officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes, killing him.
A federal jury deliberated for around 13 hours before returning a guilty verdict for the three former officers in the US District Court of Minnesota.
Thao and Kueng were also each convicted on one count of failing to intervene in Chauvin's use of excessive force against Floyd, the Star Tribune reported. Cameras are not allowed in federal courtrooms and the US District Court for the District of Minnesota didn't offer audio streaming of the trial.
All three officers face a maximum life sentence in prison. The jury found that all three officer's actions resulted in Floyd's death, which opens them up to the highest possible sentence, according to Star Tribune reporter Andy Mannix.
Judge Paul Magnuson allowed all three men to be released from court on bail conditions ahead of their sentencing, Mannix reported. The court has not set a sentencing date.
Chauvin is serving a 22-year sentence after a state jury convicted him on charges of unintentional murder and manslaughter in April 2021. Chauvin also pleaded guilty to two federal counts of deprivation of rights under the color of law in December.
Chauvin admitted to violating Floyd's rights and also violating a 14-year-old's rights during an unrelated 2017 encounter where he knelt on the adolescent's neck while they were handcuffed and in a prone position.
Lane, Thao, and Kueng also all face a joint state trial in June on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter related to Floyd's death.
Dit artikel is oorspronkelijk verschenen op z24.nl