Tou Thao sentenced to nearly 5 years over role in George Floyd’s death
Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao, the final officer going through state sentencing in George Floyd’s demise, was sentenced Monday to 4 years and 9 months in jail for his position within the Could 2020 arrest that sparked global protests and a national reckoning on police brutality and systemic racism.
Thao, who stored bystanders away as Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for greater than 9 minutes, was convicted in May in state court of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter after he rejected a plea deal and waived his right to a jury trial.
Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill reached a verdict within the stipulated bench trial primarily based on displays and transcripts from Chauvin’s homicide trial, which Cahill presided over, and the federal civil rights trial of Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane. Thao testified during that trial he served as “a human visitors cone,” controlling the gang of bystanders as the opposite officers restrained Floyd, who was Black.
Prosecutors, led by Minnesota Legal professional Common Keith Ellison, agreed to drop a extra severe cost − aiding and abetting homicide − if Thao was convicted on the lesser cost. Minnesota sentencing tips advocate a four-year sentence on the manslaughter depend, which Thao would serve similtaneously his 3 1/2-year sentence for his federal civil rights conviction, however Cahill was ready to make use of his discretion throughout sentencing.
What occurred to the opposite ex-officers charged in George Floyd’s demise?
Kueng additionally prevented a jury trial by pleading responsible to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison.
Lane additionally pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to three years in prison last year.
Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in jail in 2021 after he was found guilty of homicide and manslaughter in a closely monitored trial. After Minnesota’s highest courtroom rejected his appeal for a brand new state trial, Chauvin’s legal professionals introduced final month he would appeal that conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court. He faces lengthy odds on the Supreme Courtroom, which declines to determine the overwhelming majority of appeals.
The previous officers have been additionally convicted in federal courtroom of violating Floyd’s civil rights and have been handed concurrent federal jail sentences. Kueng was sentenced to three years, Thao obtained a 3½-year sentence and Lane was sentenced to 2½ years in prison. Chauvin, who pleaded guilty to violating Floyd’s civil rights, was sentenced to 21 years in prison. Thao is Hmong American, Kueng is Black and Chauvin and Lane are white.
Minnesota inmates usually serve two-thirds of their sentences in jail and one-third on parole. There isn’t any parole within the federal jail system however inmates can cut back their sentences with good habits.
Contributing: John Fritze, USA TODAY; The Related Press
