Federal justice began Thursday the selection of jurors who will have to decide on the guilt of Tou Thao, Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, accused of having violated the American laws on the “civil rights” of the black forties.
Concretely, they are accused of not having brought him help, while George Floyd was dying under the knee of their colleague, Derek Chauvin, on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, in the north of the United States.
That day, the four police officers had wanted to arrest the 46-year-old African American, suspected of having bought a pack of cigarettes with a counterfeit 20 dollar bill. To control this man with an imposing stature, they had tackled him to the ground, handcuffed, and had each taken their position:
– Derek Chauvin, a seasoned white police officer, had knelt on his neck.
– Alexander Kueng, a new black recruit, had settled at his back.
– Thomas Lane, a thirty-year-old white man recently hired, was holding his legs.
– Tou Thao, an American of Asian origin, for eight years in the police force, kept passers-by at a distance, terrified by the pleas, then the groans of George Floyd.
They stayed like that for almost ten minutes.
The scene, filmed and posted online, sparked huge protests against racism and police brutality across the United States and beyond, and continues to fuel reflection on America’s racist past.
“Deliberate indifference”
The justice of Minnesota had quickly launched proceedings for murder against Derek Chauvin and for complicity in murder against his colleagues. The first was tried in this context in the spring and sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison. The trial of the other three before the local courts will begin on June 13.
At the same time, federal prosecutors charged the four officers in May with “violating the civil rights” of George Floyd, including freedom and security. These double prosecutions are authorized in the United States, but relatively rare, and reflect the importance of this extraordinary file.
In December, Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty in this federal part, admitting for the first time a share of responsibility in the drama.
His three colleagues therefore appeared without him Thursday in a federal court in Saint-Paul, the twin city of Minneapolis, where security has been reinforced.
Their trial “marks another important step in the long and slow road to justice for George Floyd and his family”, commented lawyer Ben Crump, who defends the relatives of the deceased.
The three men are accused of not having brought the necessary help to the forties, despite the signs of medical distress. “They knowingly failed to provide him with assistance, acting with willful indifference,” according to the indictment.
Tou Thao and Alexander Kueng are also being criticized for not having intervened to dissuade Derek Chauvin from “exerting unreasonable force”, when they “knew” that George Floyd was unconscious and had no pulse.
The document does not specify why Thomas Lane is not targeted by this charge, but he had twice suggested to Derek Chauvin to position the African-American on his flank.
All three men plead not guilty. The two beginners should insist during the trial on the ascendancy exercised by Derek Chauvin and his 19 years of experience in the police. Tou Thao should say that he focused on passers-by and did not pay attention to the distress of George Floyd.
The judge in charge of the trial scheduled two days to select twelve jurors and six alternates. On Friday, he eliminated several people who said they were unable to be impartial.
The trial, which could get tough on Monday, could last four weeks, warned the magistrate.