"Black Lives Matter"

 

George Floyd: Three former police officers found guilty of depriving him civil rights as he was killed

The men failed to help George Floyd as their colleague Derek Chauvin, who is in prison for his murder, pinned him to the ground with his knee. His death prompted huge protests around the world against police brutality and racism.

By Rachel Russell, news reporter

Friday 25 February 2022 13:17, UK

Sky News

Three former Minneapolis police officers have been found guilty of depriving George Floyd of his civil rights by failing to give aid when he was pinned beneath a colleague's knee.

Tou Thao, 36, J. Alexander Kueng, 28, and Thomas Lane, 38, were convicted yesterday of denying Floyd's constitutional right to medical care while in police custody.

A federal jury also found that the conduct of the three officers during Floyd's arrest in the US city of Minneapolis on 25 May 2020 caused his death at the age of 46.

This finding is a rare instance of police officers being held criminally responsible for a colleague's excessive force.

Thao and Kueng were also convicted of denying Floyd's right to not face excessive force by failing to stop their colleague Derek Chauvin from kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes.

Thao, Kueng and Lane will remain free on bail ahead of their sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Prosecutors have not yet said what sentence they will request, but the men may face many years in prison