Two ex-cops reject plea deal in George Floyd’s killing

Former Minneapolis police officers Tou Thao (left) and J Alexander Kueng (right) rejected a plea deal for their roles in the death of George Floyd (inset) (Pictures: AP)

Two of former police officers charged in black man George Floyd’s killing say they have rejected plea deals.

Ex-Minneapolis police officers Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng were charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder and second degree manslaughter. The pair, as well as Thomas Lane, were working with Derek Chauvin when he knelt on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes.

Thao and Kueng formally rejected the deals at a hearing at Hennepin County Courthouse on Monday.

‘It would be lying for me to accept any plea offer,’ Thao told Judge Peter Cahill.

The Hennepin County Jail booking photos for ex-officers Tou Thao (left), J Alexander Kueng (right) (Pictures: AFP)

Cahill is the same judge who sentenced Chauvin to 22.5 years in prison after he was found guilty of second degree murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter. Chauvin is being held at the state’s maximum security prison at Oak Park Heights.

The plea deals for Thao and Kueng would have resulted in three-year prison sentences. The two ex-cops are now set to go to trial in October.

Earlier this year, Lane pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter. He agreed to a three-year sentence, with two years in prison. He is set to be formally sentenced on September 21.

Lane’s charges of aiding and abetting second degree murder were dropped as part of the plea deal.

Minneapolis police Officers Thomas Lane (left) and J Alexander Kueng (right) escorting George Floyd, center, to a police vehicle outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020 (Picture: AP)

Minneapolis police officers attempt to place George Floyd in a police vehicle, on May 25, 2020, outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis (Picture: AP)

Paramedics arrive as Minneapolis police officers, including Derick Chauvin (center) and J Alexander Kueng (left) restrain George Floyd in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020 (Picture: AP)

Assistant Attorney General Matt Frank said the plea deal for Thao and Kueng would have resulted in the state dropping the charges of aiding and abetting murder, similar to what Lane accepted.

Thao, Kueng, and Lane were found guilty on federal charges of violating Floyd’s civil rights in February. The former cops were sentenced in July. Lane received 2.5 years, Thao received 3.5 years and Kueng received 3 years.

As part of his plea deal, Lane was allowed to serve his federal jail time concurrently with his state sentence. Frank said they offered the same deal to Thao and Keung.

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