2 former officers plan to testify about Floyd killing; prosecutors rest
ST. PAUL, MINN. >> Federal prosecutors rested their case Monday against three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights, setting the stage for two of the officers to soon take the stand as part of their defense.
The prosecution rested its case after nearly three weeks of testimony from doctors, police officers and bystanders, including the teenager who recorded widely seen video that showed Officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee onto Floyd's neck for 9 1/2 minutes while the 46-yearold Black man was handcuffed, facedown and pleading for air.
J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are broadly charged with violating Floyd's constitutional rights while acting under government authority. Kueng knelt on Floyd's back and Lane held down his legs while Thao kept bystanders back.
All three are accused of depriving Floyd of medical care. Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene to stop the May 25, 2020, killing, which triggered protests worldwide and a reexamination of racism and policing. The charges allege that the officers' actions resulted in Floyd's death.
Before court ended for the day Monday, Thao and Kueng told the judge that they plan to testify. Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, told the jury earlier that Lane would also be taking the stand, but on Monday, Gray said he and Lane would like to talk it over more before making a decision.
The defense is expected to start presenting witnesses on Tuesday. Chauvin, who is White, was convicted of murder and manslaughter in state court last year and later pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge.