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J. ALEXANDER KUENG

Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death

Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death

As the trial approaches for Chauvin, who is charged with murder in Floyd's death, prosecutors are putting the time Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck at about nine minutes. Officer Derek Chauvin uses his knee to pin Floyd's neck for about nine minutes while bystanders shout at him to stop. AdMay 31 — Walz says Attorney General Keith Ellison will lead prosecutions in Floyd's death. AdFeb. 12 — City leaders say George Floyd Square, the intersection blocked by barricades since Floyd's death, will reopen to traffic after Chauvin's trial. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

EXPLAINER: How is officer's duty relevant to Floyd case?

EXPLAINER: How is officer's duty relevant to Floyd case?

Weren’t Derek Chauvin and other officers “duty bound to deal with the arrestee as they find them?” Cahill asked. That duty could be key at the trial that starts with opening statements Monday, especially as the defense asserts that Floyd's swallowing of pills contributed to his death. The Minneapolis Police Department sought to train its officers to minimize violence in the years before Floyd died. Floyd's death indicates the 2016 reforms in Minneapolis didn't work, he said. The officers get Floyd to the ground and hold him there.

Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death

Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death

As the trial approaches for Chauvin, who is charged with murder in Floyd's death, prosecutors are putting the time Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck at about nine minutes. Officer Derek Chauvin uses his knee to pin Floyd's neck for about nine minutes while bystanders shout at him to stop. AdMay 31 — Walz says Attorney General Keith Ellison will lead prosecutions in Floyd's death and the nationwide protests continue. Feb. 12 — City leaders say George Floyd Square, the intersection blocked by barricades since Floyd's death, will reopen to traffic after Chauvin's trial. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Prosecutors: Officer was on Floyd's neck for about 9 minutes

Prosecutors: Officer was on Floyd's neck for about 9 minutes

As the trial approaches for Chauvin, who is charged with murder in Floyd's death, prosecutors are putting the time Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck at about nine minutes. The fact that the figure has evolved probably won't matter at Chauvin’s trial, which begins Monday with jury selection. He had been handcuffed and was pleading that he couldn't breathe, but Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck even after he stopped moving and speaking. The narrative in the initial complaint filed May 29 by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says Chauvin held his knee to Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds. This means Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for at least nine minutes flat, but possibly for as long as 9 minutes, 31 seconds.

Federal grand jury hearing evidence in death of George Floyd

Federal grand jury hearing evidence in death of George Floyd

The New York Times first reported that a grand jury was hearing testimony against Chauvin. Floyd’s death sparked protests in Minneapolis and beyond and led to a nationwide reckoning on race. Like Chauvin, all three were fired soon after Floyd’s death. It’s unclear what specifically prompted the increased grand jury activity in the last few weeks, though most federal grand juries are discharged after about 18 months. Barr rejected the deal in part because he felt it was too soon as the investigation into Floyd’s death was still in its relative infancy, the officials said.

Officer with knee to George Floyd's neck to be tried alone

Officer with knee to George Floyd's neck to be tried alone

Chauvin, who held his knee to the neck of George Floyd for several minutes, will be tried separately from three other former officers accused in his death, according to scheduling orders filed Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)MINNEAPOLIS – A former Minneapolis police officer who held his knee to George Floyd's neck for minutes will be tried separately from the three other former officers accused in his death, according to an order filed Tuesday that cites limited courtroom space due to COVID-19 restrictions. Derek Chauvin will stand trial alone in March while the other three former officers will be tried together in the summer. Former officers Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are each charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Defense attorneys had argued last year that the officers should be tried separately, but prosecutors argued against it.

Delay sought in ex-officers' trial over George Floyd's death

Delay sought in ex-officers' trial over George Floyd's death

Prosecutors in the case against the four Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd requested that the trial delayed by three months. Prosecutors cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the amount of time needed before enough people are vaccinated and health risks are sufficiently diminished. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP)MINNEAPOLIS – Prosecutors in the case against the four Minneapolis officers charged in the death of George Floyd requested that the trial delayed by three months. Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, said he doesn't intend to object to the prosecution seeking a delay in the trial. “The pandemic has been around for a while.”Thao’s lawyer, Robert Paule, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Judge rejects moving trial of ex-officers in Floyd's death

Judge rejects moving trial of ex-officers in Floyd's death

MINNEAPOLIS – A judge on Thursday rejected defense requests to move the trial of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's death, and also ordered that all four will be tried together instead of separately. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill ruled after defense attorneys had argued that pretrial publicity had made it impossible for the four men to get a fair trial in Minneapolis. But Cahill said he was not convinced that moving the trial would improve security, and that he believes the jury can be protected from outside influences. Moving the trial away from Minneapolis to a less diverse area also likely would affect the makeup of the jury, though the judge didn't address that issue. Floyd’s death sparked protests in Minneapolis and beyond, and led to a nationwide reckoning on race.

Ex-officer charged in George Floyd's death freed on $1M bond

Ex-officer charged in George Floyd's death freed on $1M bond

Floyd’s death was captured in widely seen bystander video that set off protests around the world. As darkness fell Wednesday evening, hundreds of people took to the streets in south Minneapolis where protests were centered in the days after George Floyd’s death. In Minnesota, someone who posts bond is required to pay 10%, in this case $100,000, to the bail bond company. Chauvin's wife, Kellie Chauvin, filed for divorce shortly after Floyd's death. The other three officers charged in Floyd's death had previously posted bond amounts of $750,000 and have been free pending trial.

Court weighs allowing courtroom cameras in George Floyd case

Court weighs allowing courtroom cameras in George Floyd case

The judge overseeing the case has yet to decide whether cameras will be allowed. But the state attorney general’s office, which is prosecuting the case, opposes them, saying cameras would only create more problems. The former officers have consented to cameras, but prosecutors have resisted, saying they may revisit the issue as the trial nears. Defense attorneys say cameras would help ensure the trial is fair and open during the pandemic, when courtroom attendance has been limited to allow for social distancing. Kirtley, who is part of the coalition, said any concerns that cameras would be disruptive can be managed by the judge.

Prosecutors: Chauvin used neck restraints in past arrests

Prosecutors: Chauvin used neck restraints in past arrests

In one July 2019 arrest, prosecutors say, Derek Chauvin kicked an intoxicated male in the midsection, then applied a neck restraint until he fell unconscious. In June 2017, Chauvin restrained an arrested female by placing his knee on her neck while she was prone on the ground, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said in those cases and in two others, Chauvin held the restraints “beyond the point when such force was needed under the circumstances." Floyd, a Black man in handcuffs, died May 25 after Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd's neck even as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. In addition to the arrests in which Chauvin used neck or head and upper body restraints, prosecutors also listed an August 2015 incident in which Chauvin saw other officers place a suicidal and intoxicated male into a side-recovery position after using a stun gun on him.

Lawyers for ex-cops raise Floyd's history of crime, drug use

Lawyers for ex-cops raise Floyd's history of crime, drug use

This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows Derek Chauvin, from left, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. Kueng, Lane and Thao have been charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin. Minneapolis adopted a policy in 2016 requiring officers to intervene when colleagues are using inappropriate force. Yet three other officers at the scene failed to stop 19-year police veteran Derek Chauvin when he put his knee on Floyd's neck despite Floyd's cries that he couldn't breathe. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Lawyers for ex-cops raise Floyd's history of crime, drug use

Lawyers for ex-cops raise Floyd's history of crime, drug use

Yet three other officers at the scene failed to stop 19-year police veteran Derek Chauvin when he put his knee on Floyd's neck despite Floyd's cries that he couldn't breathe. Floyd, a Black man who was in handcuffs, died May 25 after Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe and became motionless. Mike Brandt, a defense attorney not connected to the case, said countering that video with Floyd's past is good strategy. “You are trying to push the pendulum back … from those damning videos of Chauvin with his knee on Floyd’s neck," he said. In documents requesting dismissal, Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, wrote about Floyd’s prior charges of armed robbery and drug possession in Texas.

Officer minimized role in Floyd’s death to investigators

Officer minimized role in Floyd’s death to investigators

A former Minneapolis police officer involved in George Floyd's arrest told investigators that he was focused on crowd control and minimized his role in the actions that led to Floyd's death, video of the interview shows. "I don’t want anyone to die,” Thao told an investigator who asked what his reaction was to Floyd's death. My heart kind of sank.”Thao voluntarily participated in the 1-hour, 40-minute interview with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension eight days after Floyd's death. Thao also said he has never used the maneuver that Chauvin used to pin Floyd to the ground. Floyd's death sparked protests around the globe against racial injustice and police brutality.

Ex-cop's video captures crowd's horror during Floyd arrest

Ex-cop's video captures crowd's horror during Floyd arrest

MINNEAPOLIS Newly released body-camera video from a third officer involved in George Floyds arrest captures for the first time the growing horror of onlookers who repeatedly pleaded with the officers to get off Floyd. The video made available Thursday comes from fired Officer Tou Thao, one of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of Floyd, a handcuffed Black man. Floyd died after a white officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee against Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes on a south Minneapolis street May 25 as Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. That footage, along with Thao's video, shows Floyd pleading with the officers as they struggle to place him in the squad car in the moments before his death. Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe and called out for his mother before passing out.