Officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s back faces sentencing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The previous Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s again whereas one other officer kneeled on the Black man’s neck is anticipated to be sentenced Friday to three 1/2 years in jail for manslaughter.

J. Alexander Kueng pleaded responsible in October to a state depend of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. The plea got here on the identical day jury choice was set to start in his trial. His responsible plea — together with one other officer’s choice to let a decide resolve his destiny — averted what would have been the third lengthy and painful trial over Floyd’s killing.

Floyd died on Might 25, 2020, after former Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes as Floyd repeatedly mentioned he couldn’t breathe and finally went limp. The killing, which was recorded on video by a bystander, sparked worldwide protests as a part of a broader reckoning over racial injustice.

Kueng kneeled on Floyd’s again in the course of the restraint. Then-Officer Thomas Lane held Floyd’s legs and Tou Thao, additionally an officer on the time, stored bystanders from intervening. The entire officers have been fired and confronted state and federal costs.

Kueng, who’s already serving a federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights, will seem at Friday’s sentencing listening to by way of video from a low-security federal jail in Ohio. Kueng has the correct to make an announcement, however it’s not recognized if he’ll.

Floyd’s relations even have the correct to make sufferer affect statements.

As a part of his plea settlement, Kueng admitted that he held Floyd’s torso, that he knew from his expertise and coaching that restraining a handcuffed particular person in a susceptible place created a considerable danger, and that the restraint of Floyd was unreasonable underneath the circumstances.

Kueng agreed to a state sentence of three 1/2 years in jail, to be served similtaneously his federal sentence and in federal custody.

Kueng’s sentencing will deliver the circumstances in opposition to all the former officers a step nearer to decision, although the state case in opposition to Thao continues to be pending.

Thao beforehand informed Choose Peter Cahill that it “can be mendacity” to plead responsible. In October, he agreed to what’s known as a stipulated proof trial on the aiding and abetting manslaughter depend. As a part of that course of, his attorneys and prosecutors are understanding agreed-upon proof in his case and submitting written closing arguments. Cahill will then resolve whether or not he’s responsible or not.

If Thao is convicted, the homicide depend — which carries a presumptive sentence of 12 1/2 years in jail — can be dropped.

Chauvin, who’s white, was convicted of state homicide and manslaughter costs final 12 months and is serving 22 1/2 years within the state case. He additionally pleaded responsible to a federal cost of violating Floyd’s civil rights and was sentenced to 21 years. He’s serving the sentences concurrently on the Federal Correctional Establishment in Tucson, Arizona.

Kueng, Lane and Thao have been convicted of federal costs in February: All three have been convicted of depriving Floyd of his proper to medical care and Thao and Kueng have been additionally convicted of failing to intervene to cease Chauvin in the course of the killing.

Lane, who’s white, is serving his 2 1/2-year federal sentence at a facility in Colorado. He’s serving a three-year state sentence on the similar time. Kueng, who’s Black, was sentenced to a few years on the federal counts; Thao, who’s Hmong American, acquired a 3 1/2-year federal sentence.

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Groves reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

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For extra AP protection of the killing of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd