MINNEAPOLIS — On the final morning of their civil rights trial, a federal prosecutor described to jurors how three former Minneapolis police officers watched and listened but did not help as Derek Chauvin killed a man "in broad daylight on a public street."
The officers knew Floyd needed help, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda Sertich. They were trained that every second counted when it came to saving an unresponsive man's life. They had the ability to render aid.
Instead, Sertich said, Officer Tou Thao "mocked" Floyd, remarking to a group of bystanders that this is "why you don't do drugs." Thomas Lane suggested turning Floyd over, which Sertich said proves he recognized the medical emergency. But when Chauvin denied the request, Lane did nothing more to help the man. J. Alexander Kueng held Floyd's legs and "causally picked gravel out of the tire in front of him, and laughed" when Chauvin said the dying man was talking a lot for someone who claimed he couldn't breathe, she said.
