George Floyd Death: Ex-Minnesota Officer Who Aided Killing Gets Prison Verdict

Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao has been sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison for aiding and abetting manslaughter in the tragic 2020 George Floyd death, Reuters reports.

The incident saw Floyd, a Black man, pinned to the ground with an officer's knee during an ill-fated arrest.

Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill delivered the sentence, surpassing the 4-1/4 years requested by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

While handing down the sentence, Judge Cahill expressed a desire for more remorse and acknowledgment of responsibility from Thao.

Judge Cahill had found Thao guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter in the second degree concerning the George Floyd death in May.

Thao, a nine-year police force veteran, becomes the fourth and final officer sentenced for the incident.

In court proceedings, Thao shared, "I didn't intend on doing any malice or ... try to hurt anyone. That was never my intent. I did the best that I thought I could."

The incident happened on May 25, 2020, when Derek Chauvin, a white officer, was captured on video kneeling on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes.

Thao, meanwhile, was observed holding back a small group of onlookers while Chauvin and two other officers subdued Floyd. The police suspected Floyd of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a nearby store.

The tragic event ignited a surge of protests both within the United States and internationally, with demonstrations focusing on racism and police brutality.

Tou Thao's Federal Civil Rights Charge

Tou Thao's concurrent sentence of 4-3/4 years for aiding and abetting manslaughter will coincide with his existing 3 1/2-year federal civil rights charge, which was upheld by an appeals court on Friday, per AP.

Following this, Thao will return to federal prison to complete his sentence before being transferred to a Minnesota state prison, where he will serve the remaining months with credit for time already served.

In court, Thao's legal representative, Robert Paule, characterized Thao as "a good and decent man with a family."

He revealed that they intend to appeal in state and federal cases but declined to provide additional commentary.

Assistant Attorney General Erin Eldridge emphasized the global impact of George Floyd's final words during the hearing.

She recounted how Floyd's narration of his demise extended over a grueling restraint lasting 9 minutes, culminating in the loss of consciousness, cessation of breath, and cessation of heartbeats.

Eldridge contended that Thao played a facilitating role in George Floyd death by failing to intervene.

She asserted that Thao's actions prevented others, including a trained emergency medical technician who was a Minneapolis firefighter, from aiding the dying man.

Eldridge emphasized that Thao possessed the knowledge and training to act differently, stating, "He knew better, and he was trained to do better."

Other Former Minneapolis Police Officers Pleaded Guilty in George Floyd Murder

J. Alexander Kueng, one of the former Minneapolis police officers involved in the George Floyd death, opted to forego a jury trial by pleading guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Consequently, he has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison, according to USA Today.

Similarly, Thomas Lane, another former officer, also entered a guilty plea for aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter, leading to a three-year prison sentence last year.

Chauvin, the officer primarily responsible for George Floyd's death, received a 22 1/2-year prison term in 2021 after being found guilty of murder and manslaughter in a closely observed trial.

Despite Minnesota's highest court rejecting his appeal for a new state trial, Chauvin's legal team recently declared their intention to appeal his conviction to the US Supreme Court.

However, the prospects for success at the Supreme Court level are generally limited, as the court declines to hear most appeals.

Furthermore, these former officers faced federal convictions for violating George Floyd's civil rights, resulting in concurrent prison sentences in federal facilities.

Kueng received a three-year sentence, and Thomas Lane was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Derek Chauvin, who pleaded guilty to violating Floyd's civil rights, was subjected to a 21-year prison sentence.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Tou Thao sentenced to 57 months for state conviction in George Floyd's killing - From NEWS CENTER Maine