Former US police officer gets 3 years in George Floyd killing | Black Lives Matter News
A former police officer in the United States who pleaded guilty to the state of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the murder. George Floyd was sentenced to three years in prison.
Judge Peter Cahill accepted the plea agreement for Thomas Lane on Wednesday, saying he would sentence Lane under instructions because he accepted responsibility.
“I think it’s a very wise decision when you accept the responsibility and move on with your life,” Cahill said, acknowledging that Floyd’s family has not been able to move on with them.
Lane, a former police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, served 2.5 years federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights.
When it came to the state’s case, prosecutors and Lane’s attorneys agreed to a recommended sentence of three years – under sentencing guidelines – and prosecutors agreed to allow him to accept his sentence. serving that sentence at the same time as his federal sentence, and in a federal prison.
Floyd died in May 2020 after the officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground with his knee to the 46-year-old man’s neck as Floyd kept telling him can’t breathe.
Lane held off Floyd in the deadly arrest, while two other officers – J Alexander Kueng and To Thao – knelt on Floyd’s back respectively and did not allow bystanders to interfere during 9.5 minutes of restraint.
Under Minnesota regulations, Lane would presumably serve two years of his state sentence in prison, with the remainder on supervised release, commonly known as parole.
The murder, captured on video widely viewed by bystanders, has sparked protests in Minneapolis and around the globe as part of a reflection on racial injustice.
Wednesday’s sentencing hearing was held remotely. Lane appeared via video from Englewood Federal Correctional Institution, a low-security federal prison camp in Littleton, Colorado. He made no statement to the court prior to sentencing. But after the hearing was adjourned, Lane complained to his lawyer that the judge had said he would have to register as a predator “if required”.
“Do I have to register as a predatory criminal? What [expletive] is that true? ‘ said Lane. And he added, “That’s what Chauvin has to do. If I have a minimal role, why [expletive] do i have to do that? “
Gray told him he would look into it.
Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter and given a 22.5 years state sentence in 2021. He also pleaded guilty federal violation Floyd’s Civil Rightsand his federal and state convictions are being served at the same time.
Outside the Hennepin County Government Center as former MPD officer Thomas Lane was sentenced today for aiding in the killing of George Floyd. pic.twitter.com/Rf8zh3RqQ3
– Mark Freie (@MarkFreie) September 21, 2022
Kueng and Thao already was also convicted on federal civil rights charges and was sentenced to 3 years and 3.5 years, respectively.
They have yet to report to federal prison, and are expected to appear in court on charges of aiding and abetting both murders and manslaughter in October.
When Lane pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter earlier this year, he admitted that he knowingly helped restrain Floyd in a way that created undue risk and caused his death. ta.
As part of the plea agreement, the charge of aiding and abetting the more serious second-degree negligent homicide was dismissed.
In his plea agreement, Lane admitted that he knew from his training that restraining Floyd in that way would pose a serious risk of death, and he heard Floyd say he did not breathing, knowing Floyd was silent, had no pulse and appeared to be lost. awareness.
The plea agreement said Lane knew Floyd should have been on his side – and evidence suggests he asked twice whether it should be done – but he continued to assist in restraint despite the risk. Lane agreed that restraint was “unreasonable in all circumstances and constitutes an unlawful use of force”.
