3 on trial in Floyd civil rights case

As the federal trial for three former Minneapolis officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights is set to begin Monday, some wonder whether Derek Chauvin – the officer already convicted of Floyd’s murder – will take the stand.

What is this trial about?: Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng are broadly charged in federal court with depriving Floyd of his civil rights while acting under government authority as Chauvin used his knee to pin the Black man to the street for 9 1/2 minutes on May 25, 2020.

Kueng and Lane helped restrain the 46-year-old Floyd. Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back, and Lane held Floyd’s legs. Thao kept bystanders from intervening in the videotaped killing.

Details about Chauvin: After his conviction in state court, Chauvin pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation. During his plea hearing, he admitted he knew what he did to Floyd was wrong and he had a “callous and wanton disregard” for Floyd’s life. Chauvin did not testify in his state trial.

Will Chauvin testify now?: Probably not: The prosecutors don’t need his testimony because they have powerful video evidence, and defense attorneys likely don’t want Chauvin in court.