J. Alexander Kueng entered a plea change just as jury selection for the former officers' trials was set to begin. Kueng's 42-month sentence will run concurrently with the federal sentence he's already started serving.
The other officer on the scene of George Floyd's murder, Tou Thao, has agreed to a bench trial before Judge Peter Cahill, which will be conducted in writing rather than a jury trial. Both Thao and Kueng had rejected the state offer in August and intended to go to trial.
Mitchell-Hamline Law Professor Rick Petry explains what comes next for Kueng who perhaps avoided a longer state sentence if he were to lose the state trial.
“These will run concurrent, and with regard to where they will be incarcerated, I think there’s probably a strong likelihood that as part of this negotiated plea that they’ll spend their time in federal prison rather than in state prison,” according to Petry who spoke with WCCO's Adam and Jordana.
As for Tou Thao, he has agreed to a bench trial before Judge Peter Cahill, which will be conducted in writing, rather than a jury trial. Thao is facing charges of aiding and abetting in the murder of George Floyd.
While Kueng's plea deal came at the last minute just as jury selection was about to begin Petry says it's not surprising.
“The presumption is they’re innocent unless and until the government can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they’re guilty,” says Petry. “So from the government side, you can sort of see where there may be interest in arriving at a plea deal. And the other thing, and I think this is the thing that’s most important for the community, is it gives us a chance to get closer to closure.”
Kueng and Thao were charged with second degree murder and second degree manslaughter for their roles in the killing of George Floyd.
Twin Cities defense attorney Joe Tamburino has been following the case for WCCO-TV.
“Obviously is spares the community another trial,” says Tamburino. “This was going to be another emotional trial, especially if video evidence was played a lot just like in Chauvin. So it does spare the community a lot of heartache and emotions.”
Former officer Thao's proceedings will take place in mid-November.
Related
