The state trial for former Minneapolis police officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng in the killing of George Floyd has been pushed back to March 7, 2022, a judge has ruled.
The trial for the former officers was set to start on August 23, 2021, but on Thursday, Judge Peter Cahill ruled that the trial should be postponed to allow for “distance” from the publicity that has occurred and will likely continue as former officer Derek Chauvin is sentenced on June 25, according to reports. The three officers are out on bond pending the trial.
With the delay in the trial, the federal civil rights trial against the former officers will come first.
The postponement comes a day after Judge Cahill ruled that he will consider four aggravating factors when sentencing Chauvin, which would allow for a longer sentence beyond state guidelines.
On April 20, a 12-person jury found Chauvin guilty of second-and third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s May 25, 2020 killing. The three other former officers are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
The MSR will continue to follow this story as it develops.
Related Stories:
A new trial for Chauvin is not likely to be granted—Here’s why
Chauvin conviction: the charges and sentencing considerations
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.