3rd officer testifies in federal trial in Floyd's killing

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The third former Minneapolis police officer charged with federal civil rights violations in George Floyd’s killing has taken the stand at their trial.

Thomas Lane is testifying Monday. He, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are charged with violating Floyd’s constitutional rights when Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for 9½ minutes as the 46-year-old Black man was handcuffed, facedown on the street.

Lane held Floyd’s legs. Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back and Thao kept bystanders back.

All three officers are accused of depriving Floyd of his right to medical care. Kueng and Thao are also charged with failing to intervene to stop Chauvin. Lane doesn’t face that charge. He twice asked whether Floyd should be turned onto his side.

Kueng and Thao both testified earlier. Kueng said he deferred to Chauvin as the senior officer on the scene. Thao said he was was relying on the other three officers at the scene to care for Floyd’s medical needs while he controlled the crowd and traffic.

Floyd’s death triggered protests worldwide and a reexamination of racism and policing.