MINNEAPOLIS — A litany of 170 motions were argued in Hennepin County District court ahead of the joint trial of two ex-Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting George Floyd's killing, and who are already serving federal sentences for violating Floyd's civil rights.
Former Officers J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao waived their right to appear at hearings Thursday and Friday. Kueng, 29, is in custody at the Elkton, Ohio, federal prison and Thao, 36, remains at the federal medical center in Lexington, Kentucky. Their trial is slated for Oct. 24, starting with an anticipated two weeks of jury selection. Judge Peter Cahill expects the trial to wrap up by Dec. 16.
Thao's attorney Robert Paule suggested jury selection may be challenging because "every member of society ... has heard of this case" and has seen much of the evidence in Derek Chauvin's trial.
