Three former Minneapolis police officers who were present at the scene of George Floyd's death in addition to Derek Chauvin were found guilty on Thursday of deliberately violating Floyd's constitutional rights.
A federal jury handed down a guilty verdict for 36-year-old Tou Thao, 38-year-old Thomas Lane, and 28-year-old Alexander Kueng, for failing to provide medical care for Floyd at the scene.
Kueng and Thao were also charged with failing to intervene and stop Chauvin. Lane did not receive this charge because he asked Chauvin twice if they should roll Floyd on his side to breathe easier.
According to The New York Times, this case has been categorized as "extraordinarily rare." The Times also commented that "the verdicts signal to police departments across America that juries may become more willing to convict not just officers who kill people on the job, but also those who watch them do it."
On May 25 2020, Chauvin was caught on video keeping his knee on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd lost his pulse, and died shortly after.
Kueng and Lane reportedly helped Chauvin restrain Floyd, while Lane kept the crowd away.
Chauvin has long since been convicted of Floyd's murder by a Minnesota jury, and is currently incarcerated, serving a 22-year sentence for his crimes.
The three men are currently free on bond. Their sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. All three of them could face sentences as stiff as life in prison.
All three also still are facing another trial at the state level for charges of aiding and abetting a homicide. In addition, Chauvin is still possibly facing federal charges, which could increase his own time incarcerated.
Following the verdict, Floyd's relatives commended the action.
"I’m starting to feel like I can breathe again," Philonise Floyd, a brother of George Floyd’s, told The New York Times.
After around 13 hours of deliberation, the jurors’ decision suggested that the officers knew that Floyd was in need of medical care, and that Chauvin was breaking the law.
The jurors rejected the defense cases that stated the officers trusted Chauvin, and that they were not aware that he was doing something illegal.
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