The federal trial for three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights is set to begin, with jury selection starting on January 20th. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson, presiding over the case in St. Paul, Minnesota, urged attorneys to expedite the proceedings to minimize potential disruptions caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants, Tou Thao, J. Kueng, and Thomas Lane, face charges stemming from their actions during Floyd’s fatal arrest in May 2020.
Specifically, all three are charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care. Thao and Kueng face an additional charge: willfully depriving Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable force by failing to intervene as former Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck. Lane, while not facing the same charge, twice questioned the necessity of Chauvin’s restraint technique, asking whether Floyd should be rolled onto his side.
This trial follows the high-profile conviction of Derek Chauvin on state murder and manslaughter charges, as well as his subsequent guilty plea to a federal civil rights violation related to Floyd’s death. The incident, captured on bystander video, sparked widespread protests against police brutality across the United States and internationally.
Judge Magnuson addressed several pretrial motions, including defense requests to exclude testimony from a 10-year-old eyewitness and an off-duty firefighter who witnessed the arrest. The judge granted both motions, citing concerns about the emotional impact of their testimony. He also initially granted a motion to limit medical expert testimony, citing the already extensive witness list. However, after a plea from prosecutor LeeAnn Bell, who offered to provide a synopsis of each expert’s intended testimony, Magnuson agreed to reconsider the limitation.
The judge’s primary concern remained the potential for COVID-19 to disrupt the trial, particularly with the highly contagious Omicron variant prevalent. He emphasized the need to streamline the proceedings to minimize courtroom exposure, urging the attorneys to “move the case along.” He also expressed concern that the case “is getting out of proportion.”
Evidence from Chauvin’s state trial indicates that Kueng and Lane assisted in restraining Floyd while he was prone on the ground. Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back, while Lane held down his legs. Thao, meanwhile, prevented bystanders from intervening.
A key element of the prosecution’s case involves proving that the officers’ actions directly resulted in Floyd’s death. Despite a motion from Kueng’s attorney, Tom Plunkett, to exclude paramedic testimony regarding Floyd’s condition upon their arrival, Judge Magnuson allowed such testimony. The prosecution intends to demonstrate that the officers were trained to provide immediate aid to individuals who are not breathing and lack a pulse.
Judge Magnuson also opted to conduct juror questioning himself, planning to bring in groups of 36 potential jurors until 40 are deemed suitable. Attorneys will then exercise their peremptory challenges to arrive at a final jury of 18, including six alternates. Thao’s attorney, Bob Paule, sought to prevent prosecutors from questioning witnesses about their emotional responses to Floyd’s arrest or the video footage. Magnuson cautioned both sides against eliciting emotional testimony, emphasizing its potential for prejudice.
Prosecutor Bell confirmed that no plea deals were offered to the defendants, though initial discussions took place that ultimately were not pursued.
In addition to the federal charges, the three former officers face state charges of aiding and abetting both murder and manslaughter. The state trial, originally scheduled for March 7th, has been requested for postponement by both the prosecution and defense. The judge presiding over the state case recently denied a defense motion to reconsider the livestreaming of the proceedings. This decision ensures public access to the trial, further highlighting the significant public interest in this case.
This federal trial marks another crucial chapter in the legal proceedings following George Floyd’s death. The outcome will have significant implications for police accountability and civil rights enforcement, adding to the ongoing national conversation about race and policing. The trial’s proceedings will be closely watched by communities across the United States and around the world.
