The federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers accused of deprivation of George Floyd's civil rights during his arrest that ultimately killed him in May 2020 is different from the state trial where they are accused of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter.
Huge numbers of protesters gather in lower Manhattan near City Hall to protest Police brutality. The photo was taken by the STRF/STAR MAX.
Star MAX/IPx.
According to a federal indictment, officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are accused of violating Floyd's constitutional rights by denying him his liberty without due process.
The indictment alleges that the three officers, who have all pleaded not guilty to the charges, showed indifference to Floyd's medical needs after they saw he was in need of medical care and willfully failed to aid him, leading to his death.
After pleading not guilty to federal charges, Chauvin changed his plea to guilty in December and is awaiting sentencing.
In addition to the federal charges, officers Keung, Lane and Thao are scheduled to go on trial in June in Minnesota, where they are accused of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Legal experts told the Los Angeles Times that the state and federal cases are not double jeopardy because the officers are not being charged with the same offense.
If Keung, Lane or Thao are found guilty of violating a person's civil rights, the sentence for that crime varies greatly. Federal sentencing formulas can carry maximum penalties up to life in prison or death, but they are rare.
The quote is crucial.
Mark Osler, a former federal prosecutor and professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, told the Associated Press that the officers are charged with what they did. They are charged with what they did not do in the federal case. It is a different kind of accountability.
The number is big.
There is a limit to the number of words. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the judge wants to have as many potential jurors as possible. 18 jurors, including six alternates, will be selected by the judge and lawyers in the case.
We don't know what we don't know.
It is unclear why Lane was not included in the federal charge of willfully violating Floyd's rights to be free from unreasonable seizure by failing to intervene and stop Chauvin while he knelt on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes during the arrest. Lane can be seen holding Floyd's legs down in the video footage. Lane asked if Floyd should be rolled over to his side, which may have been a factor.
There is a key background.
Federal charges have been filed after a state case has failed in the past. The federal charges against Chauvin could have been filed in case of a mistrial or reversal in the state's prosecution, according to a former U.S. attorney. State and federal prosecutors can bring separate charges for the same conduct. Floyd was reported to have used a counterfeit $20 bill on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin, Keung, Lane and Thao responded to a forgery call. The video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck was captured by a teenage bystander and sparked protests throughout the summer of 2020. A jury found Chauvin guilty of murder in his own trial last year, and he is currently in prison.
DOJ charges four ex-cops with violating George Floyd's civil rights.
The two officers charged in Floyd's death were on the job for less than a week.
George Floyd's civil rights were violated in a federal case.
Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murdering George Floyd.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
