GUILTY MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21

[Niner]

Wednesday, February 16th:
*Trial continues (Day 15) (@ 9:30am CT) –MN - George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody). *Federal Grand Jury indicted & charged (5/7/21) & arraigned (9/14/21) Tou Thao (34/now 36) & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) for violated Floyd’s civil rights. Charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure, alleging they willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury to & the death of Mr. Floyd & failure to provide Floyd with medical care. Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38) is charged with failure to provide Floyd with medical care. All released on $25K unsecured bonds. All plead not guilty on 9/14/21.
Trial began on 1/20/22 with jury selection. Jurors were selected. 12 jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 3 men & 3 women. Trial began on 1/24/22 with opening statements. Prosecutors rested their case on 2/15/22. Juror #47 (man) was excused (2/8/22) for medical reasons. Replaced by man. 12 Jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 2 men & 3 women.
No court on Friday, 2/18/22, but will be in session on Monday, 2/21/22 President’s Day.
Info on indictment of 5/7/21 & court info from 5/15/21 thru 1/21/22 & Jury Selection (1/20/22) & trial (Days 1-13) 1/24/22 to 2/14/22 reference post #208 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
2/15/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 14: Defense atty Robert Paule (represents Tou Thao) who will be up first to present case. Defense witness: FBI Special Agent Blake Hostetter, he is the case agent who investigate the case. Tou Thao.
for more info see post #215 & 216 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Tou Thao continued.
for more info see post #218 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Trial continues on 2/16/22.
MN (State case) – George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody) – Tou Thao (34/now 36), Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38), & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) - Trial set to begin on 6/13/22.
Bond conditions & court info from 6/3/20 to 8/17/21 reference post #979 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20

 

[Kristin Esq.]

Thanks @Niner and @Dotta - feeling much better today

 

[Kristin Esq.]

2/16 Tweets:

POLICE TRIAL: Testimony from ex-officer #TouThao continues Wednesday in the federal trial concerning #GeorgeFloyd’s killing. Follow live updates here.

Judge says another juror has been excused due to illness – jury down to 16 members.

Yesterday, Thao testified that his role during the incident was as a "human traffic cone" doing crowd control. He said he assumed the officers were monitoring #GeorgeFloyd's condition while restraining him.

Thao's attorney, Robert Paule, asked him whether he saw any officers roll Floyd over and perform CPR. He said he did not, and presumed that meant Floyd was breathing.

Today, US Atty LeeAnn Bell is continuing her line of questioning about what Tou Thao saw/heard while Floyd is on ground.

Prosecution is apparently attempting to show that he knew more about what was happening than he testified for defense.

LeeAnn Bell asks if Tou Thao communicated any of what he was being told by bystanders to the other three officers. Tou Thao said no.

This is 5 minutes in of 6 minutes he was standing next to officers who were on top of #GeorgeFloyd.

LeeAnn Bell notes #GeorgeFloyd spoke his last words before Tou Thao said “it’s hard to talk if you’re not breathing.”

Thao said he may have been talking about the fact that Floyd had been talking before that.

LeeAnn Bell asks Thao if he was looking down at the officers on a regular basis from 5-6 minutes into the restraint. He said yes.

Bell notes that a bystander said #GeorgeFloyd was about to pass out and Thao said “that’s what happens when you’re on the ground.” Thao said he made that comment about a bystander saying Floyd’s nose was bleeding, not about the passing out. They were said around the same time.

Court goes into sidebar after defense objects, citing speculation, when Thao is asked what he observed of #DerekChauvin’s restraint. Judge agrees it’s speculation, but Bell obviously disagrees.

Defense further says her facial expressions of confusion are arguing with the court.

After sidebar, LeeAnn Bell asks Tou Thao if he observed force being used by #DerekChauvin. He says he’s unsure because Chauvin could have been “hovering” his knee above the neck.

LeeAnn Bell asks if Tou Thao told #DerekChauvin to get off #GeorgeFloyd at any point. He said no and that they were waiting for EMS to arrive.

LeeAnn Bell asks Tou Thao if he could have called out to his partners during the crowd control. He says yes.

US atty Bell asks Tou Thao if he told police officers that Floyd stopped speaking, went unconscious and bystanders asked to get his pulse. He said no.

No further questions from Bell. Court goes into morning break.

During Cross exam. of Tou Thao there were at least 30 objections by defense to prosecution questions , many sustained by Judge.Judge repeatedly admonishing Prosecution that they are being repetitive - all in front of the Jury. Yesterday Prosecutor Bell said she was almost done

Defense atty Robert Paule back up for redirect of Tou Thao.

Asks if restraint can take different forms. Thao agrees.

Paule: Are you aware of instances where bystanders disrupt paramedics?

Thao: Yes.

After short redirect, Paule ends questioning.

US atty Bell back up for re-cross.

Bell: You called for Code 3 because it was a life or death situation?

Thao: Yes.

Bell: Did you tell dispatch that Floyd was having trouble breathing? That he stopped talking?

Thao says no to both.

Paule: Why were you thinking that the continued restraint of #GeorgeFloyd was beneficial to him?

Thao: To save his life. We needed to hold him down until EMS arrived.

Tou Thao is excused from the stand after two days of testimony.

Defense atty Paule rests his side of the case.

Defense atty Thomas Plunkett is now up. He calls his client J Alexander Kueng's mother to the stand, Joni Kueng.

Joni says her son is peaceful. She says compassion is also a character trait of his.

After another round of brief questioning. Joni is excused from the stand.

#Breaking: Ex-officer J Alexander Kueng is now up to testify in his own defense in the federal trial of George Floyd's death.

Kueng, 28, is going through his background right now. He was 26 years old on May 25, 2020. He loves soccer. Grew up in Minneapolis.

Keung went to Minneapolis Community & Technical College, worked at Macy’s in downtown Minneapolis in the loss prevention team. Similar to a security guard. Deterring potential shoplifters.

Kueng said he wanted to be a police officer because he had bad interactions with officers in the past, and essentially wanted to change the culture from within. Help his community.

Decided to become a police officer before Macy's, where he worked to get some experience.

Kueng was 25 years old when he became a community service officer. Said as part of becoming a CSO, he interviewed with then chief of police, Medaria Arradondo.

Kueng says his CSO training was fast tracked because the Super Bowl was in town and the police department needed more CSOs to assist.

Plunkett notes that CSO training made them “walk and talk” like those in the military. Kueng agrees.

Kueng then applied to be a police cadet. Like CSO training, he said he had to go through physical training, psych evaluation and interview with the chief of police.

Kueng did a 1-week course of emergency medical responder training prior to the start of the police academy.

Kueng said he was trained to make sure the scene was secure before going through the ABCs of medical response. Airway, breathing, circulation.

Kueng says the carotid pulse is the gold standard of checking for a pulse. The other areas (wrist/leg) are unreliable.

Before getting into police academy training, Plunkett suggests a break.

Judge grants the break. Court will resume at 2 p.m.

https://twitter.com/WCCO/status/1494003384638128140

 

[Kristin Esq.]

2/16 Tweets Continued:

COURT SKETCHES: Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng’s testimony Wednesday in federal trial of #GeorgeFloyd’s killing. (credit: Cedric Hohnstadt)

Court resumes with defense atty Thomas Plunkett’s direct of J Alexander Kueng.

Plunkett is going to get into police academy training.

Plunkett’s line of questioning is asking about the military-like themes in police academy training, including marching in formation, order of command, standing at attention, etc.

Kueng said he had training for neck restraints in the police academy, but he hasn’t had training in neck restraints using a leg.

On duty to intervene, Kueng said he was taught that when you see an officer doing something “obviously” wrong, like punching or kicking a subject, you have to intervene. He said there were no scenarios of intervention in training.

Kueng said he was taught that the chain of command is not to be breached “or else.” Kueng said he saw it breached once, and the cadet was “very audibly” yelled at and disciplined.

Kueng described #DerekChauvin as a field training officer:
-Quiet, by the book, lot of experience
-Other officers respected him
-Officers would defer to him on what they should do
-Fair but tough

Plunkett: Have you gone to calls where someone had a breathing problem?

Kueng says yes, it was for a baby who was not breathing.

Kueng said responders had to prevent the distraught mother from disrupting while they were treating the baby.

Kueng said he hasn’t had experience with excited delirium cases. He’s had overdose calls, but they weren’t similar to what he saw with #GeorgeFloyd.

He said he never had to perform CPR while on FTO.

Following FTO, Kueng said he had one less day experience than Thomas Lane.

On why they became partners: “We were put together because nobody else wanted to work with us” because they were rookies.

Plunkett is now getting into the events of May 25, 2020 and responding to Cup Foods.

Kueng said he’s never been to a forgery call, but has been to shoplifting calls. Typically, the suspect is not there when they arrive for shoplifting cases, because they flee the scene.

Did you get information that the person (George Floyd) appeared intoxicated?

Kueng says yes.

Plunkett: Did it seem like a serious call?

Kueng: At first, no.

Kueng said the seriousness of the incident increased as they approached those, including Floyd, in the SUV.

Kueng said he got more concerned when the front passenger door flung open, like someone was going to get out.

Initially, Kueng thought there were only two people in the vehicle, in the driver and front passenger seat.

Kueng said the passenger, Morries Lester Hall, seemed like he wanted to distance himself from the other occupant, by opening the door and partially getting out.

While Kueng was talking with Hall, he said he could hear Lane yelling at the driver, Floyd, to show his hands. He then went around to help take Floyd into custody.

Kueng said he had to help Thomas Lane handcuff #GeorgeFloyd. Kueng said he had to take one of Floyd’s hands and forcefully move it in order for Lane to get the other cuff on.

Kueng said that handcuffed individuals can still cause harm to officers. He said he was concerned about Floyd being potentially violent due to his erratic behavior.

Kueng asked why they didn’t just leave #GeorgeFloyd on the sidewalk, where they initially sat him down. Kueng said they were concerned about the other two people in the car and the fact that he may be under the influence of drugs.

On getting George Floyd into the vehicle, Kueng said he’s dealt with a lot of strong individuals in training, but he’s never been in a struggle like he’d been in with Floyd. He said he wouldn’t have been able to handle Floyd alone.

Kueng said he was unaware when Derek Chauvin and Tou Thao arrived because he was busy trying to get George Floyd in the vehicle.

Kueng said his stress level was “high” during the incident and he felt winded due to exerting himself at a high level. “Mentally and physically I felt stressed out.”

Kueng said Derek Chauvin took charge of the scene.

Kueng said he had a lot of tunnel vision during the incident, not hearing certain things.

Kueng said he put his knee on the middle of Floyd's buttocks when he was in prone position.

Court goes into afternoon break.

Will hear more about what happened during the prone position, from Kueng's view, when court resumes.

https://twitter.com/WCCO/status/1494003384638128140

 

[Kristin Esq.]

The remainder of the 2/16 Tweets:

Plunkett asks how much pressure was applied by Kueng’s right knee on the middle of Floyd’s body. He said Floyd was thrashing and he needed to apply more pressure at times.

Kueng said he couldn’t tell exactly where #DerekChauvin’s knee was on the upper back/neck of Floyd, but Kueng didn't know exact spot.

Based on what he learned, Kueng said Chauvin’s position didn’t seem unusual. Kueng said he couldn’t tell how much pressure Chauvin was using.

Kueng said he remembers being taught that “if you can talk, you can breathe.” Says the growing animosity of the crowd was a concern.

Kueng said he remembered #DerekChauvin taking out the pepper spray, shaking it and pointing it at crowd.

Kueng said, with that, he assumed there was some threat from the crowd. Kueng said he’s never seen Chauvin threaten the use of pepper spray.

Kueng said he checked Floyd’s pulse on his wrist because that was the only available area, and saying he couldn’t find one. Chauvin said “what?” and Kueng repeated that he couldn’t find a pulse.

Kueng said he was thinking Chauvin would check Floyd’s pulse on his neck, which is the area to more effectively check the pulse, or get up and deal with the crowd/help Tou Thao.

Kueng said the paramedic who responded, Derek Smith, seemed very casual when he arrived, checked the carotid pulse and walked back to the ambulance while Chauvin was trying to debrief him. He said the casual nature made it seem like the situation wasn’t as serious as it was.

Plunkett talking about the use-of-force review that occurred at the scene following the incident. Kueng says it “didn’t occur” to him to mention the pulse check/unconsciousness.

Kueng said the purpose of restraining #GeorgeFloyd was to protect both the officers and Floyd, due to his earlier actions. “His conduct was aggressive and unstable.”

Kueng said he couldn’t find a pulse but sometimes it’s hard to tell with handcuffs, and the last time he checked, Floyd was breathing. Kueng said he didn’t know Floyd had a serious medical need until Lane came back from the ambulance to join him.

In general, Kueng said it was a “very unstable situation” that wasn’t captured accurately by body-worn camera footage.

Defense attorney Thomas Plunkett ends his direct of his client J Alexander Kueng.

US prosecutor Manda Sertich is now up for cross-examination. Begins by noting he had quite the education in criminal justice.

Sertich: It’s fair to say you had more than a year and a half of training (on top of 4-year degree) to be a police officer when you became a police officer?
Kueng: That’s correct, ma’am.

Kueng says some force can still be necessary if the subject stops resistance in order to control the individual.

Sertich asks if Kueng would agree there’s no need for physical force when the person has no pulse.

Kueng agrees.

Judge Paul Magnuson recesses court for the day. Will resume at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

https://twitter.com/WCCO/status/1494003384638128140

 

[mickey2942]

George Floyd Death: Former officer snaps at prosecutor when asked why he didn't try to get Derek Chauvin off George Floyd - CNN

Interesting that these officers have not been convicted of a crime in state Court, but are being tried in federal court first.

I wonder if the union is paying their legal fees.

 

[Niner]

Thursday, February 17th:
*Trial continues (Day 16) (@ 9:30am CT) –MN - George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody). *Federal Grand Jury indicted & charged (5/7/21) & arraigned (9/14/21) Tou Thao (34/now 36) & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) for violated Floyd’s civil rights. Charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure, alleging they willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury to & the death of Mr. Floyd & failure to provide Floyd with medical care. Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38) is charged with failure to provide Floyd with medical care. All released on $25K unsecured bonds. All plead not guilty on 9/14/21.
Trial began on 1/20/22 with jury selection. Jurors were selected. 12 jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 3 men & 3 women. Trial began on 1/24/22 with opening statements. Prosecutors rested their case on 2/15/22. Juror #47 (man) was excused (2/8/22) for medical reasons. Replaced by man. 12 Jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 2 men & 3 women. Another juror is excused. No mention of # of women & men. 12 jurors & 4 alternates.
No court on Friday, 2/18/22, but will be in session on Monday, 2/21/22 President’s Day.
Info on indictment of 5/7/21 & court info from 5/15/21 thru 1/21/22 & Jury Selection (1/20/22) & trial (Days 1-14) 1/24/22 to 2/15/22 reference post #219 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
2/16/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 15: Defense witness: Ex-officer Tou Thao continues on stand.
for more info see post #221 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Defense attorney Paule rests his side of the case.
Defense attorney Thomas Plunkett is now up. He calls his client Kueng's mother to the stand, Joni Kueng. Ex-officer J. Alexander Kueng.
for more info see post #221 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Ex-officer J. Alexander Kueng continues.
for more info see posts #222 & 223 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Judge says another juror has been excused due to illness – jury down to 16 members. Trial continues on 2/17/22.
MN (State case) – George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody) – Tou Thao (34/now 36), Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38), & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) - Trial set to begin on 6/13/22.
Bond conditions & court info from 6/3/20 to 8/17/21 reference post #979 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20

 

[mickey2942]

Former officer Lane has the same attorney as former officer Potter.

Who is Kim Potter's attorney Earl Gray?

 

[Kristin Esq.]

Twitter is messed up today, so I'm doing my best!

2/17

POLICE TRIAL: Testimony from ex-officer J Alexander Kueng continues in federal trial over #GeorgeFloyd’s killing. Yesterday, Kueng said he deferred to #DerekChauvin’s leadership and “trusted his advice.”

US atty Manda Sertich is cross examining.

Follow live updates here.

Sertich asking about Kueng’s earlier testimony where he said he thought #GeorgeFloyd might be experiencing excited delirium due to an inert pain response. Prosecution going through transcript of his interaction with Floyd, including when Floyd was complaining about pain in wrist.

Kueng said, yes, he did take a pulse twice from #GeorgeFloyd's wrist after 7 mins of restraint.

J Alexander Kueng asked about #GeorgeFloyd’s movements during the prone position. Kueng said the thrashing was pronounced for quite some time.

I'll be back with more later.

 

[Kristin Esq.]

2/17 Continued:

Prosecution has been showing Thomas Lane's body worn camera footage to show what J Alexander Kueng was doing.

Defense later asked to turn off volume since it's only meant to show what Kueng was seeing/doing. Judge agrees and volume turned off.

Sertich: A subject’s rights shouldn’t change based on who is responding to the scene?
Kueng: Yes.

Sertich asks if all officers have the duty to intervene, not just intervene with officers that are at their rank or below. Kueng agrees.

Sertich: You heard testimony earlier that if he would have been rolled over, his life would have been saved?
Kueng: Yes.
Sertich: But you said to just leave him.
Defense objects and judge sustains.

Sertich: You never said “I agree with Officer Lane (with rolling Floyd over) and we should do this.”
Kueng says correct.

Kueng said he couldn’t recall when exactly Floyd stopped moving. He recalls Lane saying that Floyd was passing out.

Sertich: After you couldn’t find the pulse on the wrist, you didn’t ask Derek Chauvin to check his carotid pulse?
Kueng agrees.

Continuing a major theme of the trial, defense has been objecting multiple times saying the same questions are being asked over and over. Judge agrees and sustains most of these.

Sertich says she’s going to ask a hypothetical question. Defense objects and says it calls for speculation. Judge takes court into sidebar.

Court takes morning break.

Sertich: Unreasonable force is a crime, correct?
Kueng: If it’s perceived, yes.

Defense attorney now up for redirect of his client, Kueng.

Plunkett asking about conversations with Lt. Zimmerman. “Did you knowingly omit information in speaking with him?”
Kueng: “That was not my intention, sir.”

Plunkett done with redirect. Sertich went back up for a quick re-cross.

Kueng excused from the stand.

Defense's next witness is use-of-force expert Steve Ijames, who also testified for the defense in the #KimPotterTrial.

Ijames is a police trainer with 44 years of law enforcement experience. He's from Missouri, and is the former asst. police chief in Springfield.

https://twitter.com/WCCO/status/1494335581676990467

 

[Kristin Esq.]

2/17 Continued:

Ijames says he's not being paid for his work on this case.

Ijames says the arrest/detention of Floyd was by the book due to probable cause. Says grounding Floyd was pretty common and holding him there until EMS arrived was the right thing to do. “He needed to be controlled for however long it took the ambulance to get there.”

Ijames on duty to intervene: If it’s not taught hands-on to officers, expect them to get it wrong. Plunkett: Did MPD academy training on duty to intervene meet contemporary standards of policing? Ijames: Absolutely not.

Ijames testimony appears to be demonstrating that MPD’s training on duty to intervene was not adequate and was too brief.

Judge interrupts testimony for a lunch break.

Court sketches show J Alexander Kueng (gray suit) and use-of-force expert Steve Ijames on the stand.
@esmemurphy
will have coverage on WCCO-TV and http://wcco.com/cbsn later today. (credit: Cedric Hohnstadt)

Court resuming. Attorneys and the judge waited several minutes for the jury to return to the courtroom, and the judge joked "I hope they didn't leave."

Plunkett is continuing his direct of Steve Ijames, use-of-force expert.

Ijames says that Kueng saying he had no pulse, the expectation is that something would happen, including #DerekChauvin checking the carotid pulse. He says a rookie officer would assume that the senior officer knew what he was doing.

Ijames is furthering earlier testimony from Kueng that he "deferred" to #DerekChauvin because he was the senior officer and trusted his advice. Plunkett ends direct. US atty Manda Sertich up for cross-examination.

Sertich asks if Kueng could have gotten up and checked the carotid pulse while Chauvin was kneeling on Floyd. Ijames: He could have.

Sertich: Do you agree with “in your custody, in your care”? Ijames: Yes I do.

Ijames agrees that #DerekChauvin’s use of force was unreasonable, the use of the knee was “illogical.” Sertich: And that was obvious to you? Ijames: Beyond question.

https://twitter.com/WCCO/status/1494335581676990467

 

[mickey2942]

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139654/

Lane and Kueng ended up just like this movie, "Training Day". First day on the job... Getting "trained" on correct police procedures by Derek Chauvin, the senior officer in charge.

 

[Niner]

2/17/22 Tweets continued.

WCCO - CBS Minnesota
Ijames says Kueng wasn’t trained effectively enough to understand that Chauvin’s use of force was inappropriate.

Sertich: You didn’t see or hear Kueng do or say anything to get #DerekChauvin to stop his use of force.
Ijames: No.

Court is in afternoon break.

The afternoon cross-examination has been rife with defense objecting, arguing the prosecution has been repetitive/argumentative. The judge has agreed on most of these. He's denied, however, prosecutorial misconduct.

US atty Manda Sertich ends his questioning.

No further questions from Plunkett, so Steve Ijames excused from the stand.

Defense atty Plunkett rests his case.

Defense atty Earl Gray says he "has a witness" so he's going to bring one up before the end of the day.

Defense atty Gray calls up the next witness, Gary Nelson.

Nelson worked for the Minneapolis Police Department, started in 1995.

Nelson was with the MPD for 25 years. He retired in 2020, after the killing of #GeorgeFloyd and resulting unrest.

Nelson, who was in the military, was asked to describe the police academy. He called it a paramilitary situation, sharing many aspects of what he experienced in the military.

Gray: On relationship between FTO and recruit.. Would a recruit question a field training officer about what they are doing?
Nelson: No, it would not be typical.

Earl Gray describes a situation similar to #GeorgeFloyd arrest/restraint and asks what officer would be in charge of the situation.

Court goes into a sidebar after prosecution objects.

Nelson says the senior officer would be in charge of the scene, cites hierarchy and rank structure.

Earl Gray ends questioning.

US prosecutor Samantha Trepel up for cross-examination.

Trepel: Officers are told they are accountable for their actions and inactions?
Nelson says yes to both.

Gary Nelson excused from the stand.

Court is in recess until Monday, 2/21/22 morning at 9:30 a.m. (Due to Kim Potter sentencing tomorrow)


link: https://twitter.com/WCCO


@Kristin Esq. - I finished up for you!

 

[mickey2942]

@Niner love the new "look". You are getting kittens in April?! Love getting 2 litter mates, they are so fun to watch playing.

 

[Niner]

@Niner love the new "look". You are getting kittens in April?! Love getting 2 litter mates, they are so fun to watch playing.

Thanks! And yes - a sister & brother or 2 brothers! Have a name picked out already for a boy - Louie - so I can sing him "his" song - "Louie, Louie"

 

[mickey2942]

Thanks! And yes - a sister & brother or 2 brothers! Have a name picked out already for a boy - Louie - so I can sing him "his" song - "Louie, Louie"

Ha ha! I am not the only one who sings to kitties! I sing and dance with my cat! "Baby Love".

 

[Niner]

Monday, February 21st:
*Trial continues (Day 17) (@ 9:30am CT) –MN - George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody). *Federal Grand Jury indicted & charged (5/7/21) & arraigned (9/14/21) Tou Thao (34/now 36) & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) for violated Floyd’s civil rights. Charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure, alleging they willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury to & the death of Mr. Floyd & failure to provide Floyd with medical care. Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38) is charged with failure to provide Floyd with medical care. All released on $25K unsecured bonds. All plead not guilty on 9/14/21.
Trial began on 1/20/22 with jury selection. Jurors were selected. 12 jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 3 men & 3 women. Trial began on 1/24/22 with opening statements. Prosecutors rested their case on 2/15/22. Juror #47 (man) was excused (2/8/22) for medical reasons. Replaced by man. 12 Jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 2 men & 3 women. Another juror is excused. No mention of # of women & men. 12 jurors & 4 alternates.
No court on Friday, 2/18/22, but will be in session on Monday, 2/21/22 President’s Day.
Info on indictment of 5/7/21 & court info from 5/15/21 thru 1/21/22 & Jury Selection (1/20/22) & trial (Days 1-15) 1/24/22 to 2/16/22 reference post #225 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
2/17/22 Thursday, Trial Day 16: Defense witness: Ex-officer J. Alexander Kueng continues.
for more info see posts #227 & 228 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Use-of-force expert Steve Ijames.
For more info see posts #228 & 229 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Defense attorney Plunkett rests his case.
Defense attorney Earl Gray starts his case. Defense witness: Gary Nelson. Nelson worked for the Minneapolis Police Dept., started in 1995.
For more info see post #231 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Trial continues on Monday, 2/21/22.
MN (State case) – George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody) – Tou Thao (34/now 36), Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38), & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) - Trial set to begin on 6/13/22.
Bond conditions & court info from 6/3/20 to 8/17/21 reference post #979 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20

 

[Kristin Esq.]

I'm in St. Paul this morning for the federal trial of the three ex-MPD officers charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights. Thomas Lane is on the stand now. He is 38, turning 39 in two weeks. His wife is in the courtroom and he said they are expecting a child.

On May 25, 2020, Lane was scheduled for "mid watch" shift 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. He was working with Alexander Kueng. When he arrived at the scene, Lane recalls, he pulled up right to the front "which I probably shouldn't have done."

"I had heard of Cup Foods and that it was an area to be cautious of," Lane says.

Lane is describing when he responded to the call at Cup Foods. He said there were "alarm bells" when Floyd did not raise both hands in front seat of car. Lane drew his gun. Lane asked him if he was "on anything" because it was a "common question" to ask, taught in the academy.

"I was just trying to deescalate that by lowering my voice," Lane says, recalling when Floyd said he was claustrophobic as they attempted to get him in the squad car.

Lane says he called an ambulance after seeing blood on Floyd's nose and mouth.

Floyd stopped resisting approx. four minutes after being on the ground, Lane says. “I said, 'should we roll him on his side?'” Lane says and recalls Derek Chauvin responding, “no we’re good like this.”

Lane testifies that he asked Chauvin again if they should roll Floyd over & Chauvin deflects & asked if he and the other officers were OK. He says he didn't see Floyd's face when he was on the ground. When he could see him again and he says "he didn't look good."

Lane says he helped EMT getting Floyd into the ambulance and rode in the ambulance. When asked why he went along and to help, Lane says "he didn't look good. I just felt like they might need a hand."

https://twitter.com/CaroRCummings/status/1495788524158828547

 

[Kristin Esq.]

2/21 Continued:

The prosecution reiterates policies taught in the academy include training that officers have a duty to intervene and render medical aid. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Trepel asks if Lane knew these policies and he says yes.

Trepel also reads a part of the transcript from Lane's interview with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on May 31, 2020, in which says the situation w/ Floyd could've been handled differently.

Defense rests. Court will go into recess tomorrow 9:30 a.m., at which time closing arguments begin. One juror excused for a family commitment.

https://twitter.com/CaroRCummings/status/1495788524158828547

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, February 22nd:
*Trial continues (Day 18)-Closing Arguments (@ 9:30am CT) –MN - George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody). *Federal Grand Jury indicted & charged (5/7/21) & arraigned (9/14/21) Tou Thao (34/now 36) & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) for violated Floyd’s civil rights. Charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure, alleging they willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury to & the death of Mr. Floyd & failure to provide Floyd with medical care. Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38) is charged with failure to provide Floyd with medical care. All released on $25K unsecured bonds. All plead not guilty on 9/14/21.
Trial began on 1/20/22 with jury selection. Jurors were selected. 12 jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 3 men & 3 women. Trial began on 1/24/22 with opening statements. Prosecutors rested their case on 2/15/22. Juror #47 (man) was excused (2/8/22) for medical reasons. Replaced by man. 12 Jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 2 men & 3 women. Another juror is excused. No mention of # of women & men. 12 jurors & 4 alternates. Another juror is excused re family commitment. Now: 12 jurors & 3 alternates (no breakdown). Defenses rested their cases on 2/21/22.
Info on indictment of 5/7/21 & court info from 5/15/21 thru 1/21/22 & Jury Selection (1/20/22) & trial (Days 1-16) 1/24/22 to 2/17/22 reference post #235 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
2/21/22 Monday, Trial Day 17: Defense attorney Earl Gray (for Lane) continued his case. Defense witness: Thomas Lane.
for more info see post #236 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Thomas Lane continued.
for more info see post #237 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Early Monday, Lane's attorney called two witnesses who knew Lane before he joined the Minneapolis Police Dept. Sgt. Adam Lepinski, He met Lane when Lane worked security at a Minneapolis bar.
Defense rests.
One juror excused for a family commitment.
Trial continues on 2/22/22 for closing arguments.
MN (State case) – George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody) – Tou Thao (34/now 36), Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38), & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) - Trial set to begin on 6/13/22.
Bond conditions & court info from 6/3/20 to 8/17/21 reference post #979 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20