Audio By Carbonatix
A former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd's back has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for his role in Mr Floyd's death.
J Alexander Kueng pleaded guilty to a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in October.
He was one of four officers involved in the arrest, filmed by bystanders, of the 46-year-old.
Mr Floyd was killed by police in May 2020 while lying prone and handcuffed.
His death sparked global outrage and a wave of demonstrations against racial injustice and police use of force.
Kueng will serve his new sentence for state charges concurrently with a previous federal sentence for violating Mr Floyd's civil rights.
In April 2021, former police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted on state murder and manslaughter charges for kneeling on Mr Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes and sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in jail. He is serving that sentence concurrently with a 20-year sentence on federal civil rights charges, for which he pleaded guilty in December 2021.
In February, Kueng, along with two other responding officers, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, were also found guilty on federal civil rights charges. The officers were charged with showing "deliberate indifference to [Mr Floyd's] serious medical needs" during the attempted arrest.
Video footage of the arrest shows Kueng and Lane assisting Chauvin by helping to hold Mr Floyd down. Thao, meanwhile, kept concerned bystanders away. Chauvin was a field training officer to both Lane and Kueng.
As well as Chauvin, the other officers involved were given sentences of varying lengths for the federal charges:
- J Alexander Kueng was given a 36-month sentence for failing to intervene
- Tou Thao was sentenced to 42-months in prison. The state case against him is still pending.
- Thomas Lane is serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence concurrently with a three-year state sentence for second-degree manslaughter
Speaking in court ahead of the sentencing, prosecutor Matthew Frank said that Kueng "was not simply a bystander in what happened that day", but instead played an "active part".
While Kueng declined to address the court directly, his defence attorney, Thomas Plunkett, argued that city and police officials had "failed" Mr Floyd, Kueng and the community alike.
Attorneys representing George Floyd's family said that the sentencing represented "yet another piece of justice for the Floyd family".
"While the family faces yet another holiday season without George, we hope that moments like these continue to bring them a measure of peace, knowing that George's death was not in vain," they added.
Latest Stories
-
Mahama Ayariga leads NDC delegation to Bawku ahead of Samanpiid Festival
9 minutes -
Edem warns youth against drug abuse at 9th Eledzi Health Walk
3 hours -
Suspension of new DVLA Plate: Abuakwa South MP warns of insurance and public safety risks
4 hours -
Ghana’s Evans Kyere-Mensah nominated to World Agriculture Forum Council
4 hours -
Creative Canvas 2025: King Promise — The systems player
5 hours -
Wherever we go, our polling station executives are yearning for Dr Bawumia – NPP coordinators
5 hours -
Agricultural cooperatives emerging as climate champions in rural Ghana
5 hours -
Fire Service rescues two in truck accident at Asukawkaw
5 hours -
Ashland Foundation donates food items to Krachi Local Prison
5 hours -
Akatsi North DCE warns PWD beneficiaries against selling livelihood support items
5 hours -
Salaga South MP calls for unity and peace at Kulaw 2025 Youth Homecoming
7 hours -
GPL 2025/2026: Gold Stars triumph over Dreams in five-goal thriller
8 hours -
Ibrahim Mahama supports disability groups with Christmas donation
8 hours -
2025/26 GPL: Berekum Chelsea come from behind to beat XI Wonders 3-1
8 hours -
NACOC dismantles drug dens in Eastern and Greater Accra regions in ‘Operation White Ember’
8 hours
