MINEAPOLIS (AP) – A former Minneapolis police officer pleaded guilty on Wednesday to state charges of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the murder of George Floyd.
As part of a plea deal, Thomas Lane will be acquitted of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Lane, along with J. Alexander Queng and Tou Tao have already been convicted on federal charges of intentionally violating Floyd’s rights during his detention in May 2020, which led to the death of a black man.
The state recommended a three-year sentence for Lane – which is under state sentencing – and agreed to allow him to spend time in federal prison. He has not yet been convicted in a federal case.
Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office is investigating the case, issued a statement saying he was pleased that Lane had taken responsibility for his role in Floyd’s death.
“His confession that he did something wrong is an important step in healing the wounds of the Floyd family, our community and our nation,” Ellison said. “While accountability is not justice, this is an important point in this case and a necessary resolution for our continuation on the path to justice.
Lane’s lawyer, Earl Gray, said he and Lane would have no comment. Lane was not detained and pre-trial proceedings were ordered. He is due to be convicted on September 21 on state charges.
The hearing was broadcast on Zoom for members of Floyd’s family.
Lane’s former colleague, Derek Chauvin, pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of violating Floyd’s civil rights and faces a federal sentence of 20 to 25 years. Earlier, Chauvin was convicted on state charges of murder and manslaughter and sentenced to 22 1/2 years in the state case.
Lane’s application, which is white, comes in a week when the country is focusing on the deaths of 10 blacks in Buffalo, New York, at the hands of an 18-year-old white man who committed the racist filming live Saturday at a supermarket.
Floyd, 46, died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin, who is white, pressed him to the ground with his knee on his neck, as Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. Lane and Queng helped detain Floyd, who was handcuffed. Lane held Floyd’s legs, and Queng knelt on Floyd’s back. Tao prevented passers-by from interfering during the 9 1/2 minute limit.
Lane was convicted along with Queng and Tao on federal charges in February, after a month-long trial focused on officer training and police culture. All three were convicted of depriving Floyd of his right to medical care, and Tao and Queng were also convicted of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin during the videotaped murder that sparked protests in Minneapolis and across world as part of retribution. over racial injustice.
Following their federal conviction, there was the question of whether the state trial would continue. At a hearing in April in state court, prosecutors revealed that they had offered plea deals to all three men, but they were rejected. At the time, Gray said it was difficult for the defense to negotiate when the three still did not know what their federal sentences would be.
Tao’s lawyer, Robert Paul, was in the courtroom for Lane’s hearing. When asked if his client would also enter into a plea deal, he replied “No comment.”
Kueng, who is Black, and Tao, an American Hmong, are due to appear in court in June on state charges.
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Mohamed Ibrahim is a member of the Associated Press / Report on the America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a national non-profit service program that accommodates journalists in local newsrooms to report on secret matters.
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