
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
-
Successful conviction secured for illegal fish processing operation in Watford
5 minutes -
Bowen: Ceasefire means respite for civilians, but it might not last long
6 minutes -
Ofori-Atta not yet formally notified of any charges – Frank Davies
6 minutes -
Asanko Gold supports road rehabilitation to ease transport challenges in Amansie West
17 minutes -
Serial killer pleads guilty to eight murders in case that haunted Long Island, New York
21 minutes -
NPP used Bosomtwe road as ‘election machine’ but failed to dedicate funds for its completion – Dr Amoakohene
27 minutes -
CSOs warns of contraceptive crisis as $500k UNFPA supplies stall at port
33 minutes -
Africa’s youth bulge a ‘defining moment’ that requires urgent action – NYA CEO Osman Ayariga
40 minutes -
No looming power crisis; Ghana’s electricity supply remains stable – Energy Ministry PRO insists
56 minutes -
Mahama should reset his stance on LGBTQ -Clinton Baffour
1 hour -
Rising sachet water costs should spark a bigger conversation on plastic waste
1 hour -
Two-week ceasefire takes effect as US and Iran prepare for talks in Pakistan
1 hour -
Dr. Amoakohene debunks claims Sewua and other Agenda 111 hospitals are ready for operationalisation
1 hour -
AMA rolls out new shift system for street sweepers to improve sanitation
1 hour -
Focus on capacity, not connections in Damang lease decision – Paa Kwesi Schandorf
2 hours