The family of George Floyd is again speaking critically of Judge Paul Magnuson’s sentencing of the officers involved in his death.
Officers Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane were charged with violating Floyd’s civil rights in Federal court.
Kueng was given three years while Thao was given three and a half years by Magnuson Wednesday morning. Lane got 30 months from Magnuson last week.
Chauvin was previously sentenced to 20 years for his role following a plea deal. That sentence will be concurrent with his state sentence of 22 and a half years.
"Defendants Kueng and Thao each made a tragic misdiagnosis in their assessment of Mr. Floyd," Judge Magnuson wrote in his sentencing. "The evidence showed that Kueng genuinely thought that Mr. Floyd was suffering from excited delirium with a drug overdose, and Thao genuinely believed that the officers were dealing with a drug overdose with possible excited delirium."
Prior to sentencing, Thao spoke about his newly discovered Christianity. Thao said when he first walked into his jail cell, he grabbed a Bible to look for answers. He spoke for over 20 minutes and the bizarre speech, mostly unconnected to the charges against Thao, quoted from the Bible and even about how people of the same gender, “should not be having sex”.
"Those who practice as such are worthy of death," Thao proclaimed in the courtroom.
George Floyd's girlfriend Courtney Ross spoke to reporters after sentencing, and mainly about former Thao. Ross and the family are upset that Thao never apologized to them for his role in the death of Floyd.
“And he has not made any attempt to feel anything that we’re feeling,” Ross said. “To reach out, even in the courtroom, to say something to the family. And his smug, not quiet, like the judge said. But his smug, conceited demeanor, it’s always seemed like he has a hatred for his own community and never was an officer of the law. He seemed like a criminal in that system.”
Ross went on to say Thao’s religious pontifications were disrespectful under the circumstances.
“It was not respectful to the court,” said Ross. “As a woman of God, his comments to me were disgraceful. He continued to preach scripture, but never at any moment took responsibility for his own actions.”
Ross adds that she thought some of Thao’s comments were "almost threatening to the prosecutors" in the case.
Kueng’s declined the opportunity to make comments prior to his sentencing, which Lane also declined to do. Kueng’s mother did speak after the sentencing and expressed talked about their sadness for the Floyd family as well.
“Alex’s family is so sad that we will not be able to get to see him for a while, but we will get to see him again,” Joni Kueng said. “It does not escape us that Mr. Floyd’s family and friends will not.”
While there are still state charges pending against Kueng, Thao and Lane, all four officers involved in George Floyd’s death will serve time on Federal charges:
Derek Chauvin 252 months, Thomas Lane, 30 months, J. Alexander Kueng, 36 months and Tou Thao 42 months.
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