MINNEAPOLIS — The federal civil rights trial for three former Minneapolis police officers indicted in connection with George Floyd's killing is set to begin Thursday. The men, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, all face Justice Department charges of abusing their position as police officers to deprive Floyd of his constitutional rights when another officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes and the others did not intervene during an encounter on May 25, 2020. "This offense resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of George Floyd," the charges state.
Chauvin pleaded guilty in December to similar federal charges stemming from Floyd's death and another case involving a juvenile victim after his April conviction in Hennepin County District Court of the murder of Floyd. Chauvin is currently serving a 22½-year sentence in state prison and awaiting sentencing on the federal charges. Here is what you need to know about the federal trial for the other three officers. They are also awaiting trial on state charges, but the date has not been set.
Q. Who is going to trial?
