MINNEAPOLIS – At least one trial of police officers charged with the death of George Floyd, which sparked worldwide protests, was scheduled to start in March, a judge said Monday.
All four suspects appeared in Hennepin County Court almost a month after the fatal arrest where Officer Derek Chauvin was videotaped putting his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes when the man pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” .
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said it “remains to be seen” whether the four officers will be tried together. But Cahill set March 8 as the day at least the first of these prosecutions should begin.
Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, while his colleagues, Tou Thao, Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, face charges of aiding and abetting manslaughter and murder.
“So I think my nephew’s case will be a fight,” Floyd’s aunt Angela Harrelson said outside of court. “This is going to be, it is going to be a strong fight. I see it right away, it is going to be a fight.”
Kueng and Lane are out on bail and entered the Cahill courtroom with their attorneys. Thao, who is still in jail, joined his two former colleagues in court in an orange suit and mask to cover himself.
Chauvin, also in an orange suit and mask, appeared before the judge by videoconference.
“I have not commented publicly on any aspect. I did so out of respect for Mr. Floyd and his family and will continue to do so,” said Robert Pauley, Thao’s attorney, out of court.
Floyd’s death has sparked worldwide protests against systemic racism and police brutality. Minnesota officials have launched a thorough investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department, and city lawmakers have promised to dismantle the department and create a new public security apparatus.
Selwyn Jones, Floyd’s uncle, said Monday that he finds it difficult to sit in the same courtroom as the men who allegedly killed his nephew.
“And this is just insane that we have gathered here to talk about my nephew being killed by a damn madman in the middle of the street for what reason, because of the color of his skin,” Jones said.
Gabe Gutiérrez reported from Minneapolis and David K. Li from New York
