Former Minneapolis police officer found guilty of aiding George Floyd’s killing

By Betul Yuruk

NEW YORK (AA) - Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao was convicted of manslaughter Tuesday for his role in the killing of George Floyd under the knee of another officer, Derek Chauvin, in May 2020.

''Like the bystanders, Thao could see Floyd’s life slowly ebbing away as the restraint continued,'' judge Peter Cahill said in a 177-page verdict.

''Yet Thao made a conscious decision to actively participate in Floyd’s death: he held back the concerned bystanders and even prevented an off-duty Minneapolis firefighter from rendering the medical aid Floyd so desperately needed.''

Thao is the last of four former officers to be convicted in Floyd’s murder and will be sentenced Aug. 7.

Floyd, a black man, died after Chauvin, who is white, pinned him to the ground and put his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes.

Floyd’s cries of: ''I can’t breathe'' and his death ignited worldwide protests.

Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in April 2021. Two other officers, Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, pleaded guilty to charges of aiding and abetting manslaughter.