Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao has been sentenced to 4-3/4 years in prison for aiding and abetting manslaughter in the 2020 killing of George Floyd – which lead to global protest on police violence
The incident involved Floyd’s neck being pinned to the ground by another officer’s knee during a failed arrest.
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill handed down the sentence, which slightly exceeded the 4-1/4 years requested by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
“I was hoping for a little more remorse, regret, acknowledgment of some responsibility,” Judge Cahill said before handing down the sentence.
The sentence will run concurrently with the 3-1/2 years Thao had previously received for a federal conviction related to violating Floyd’s civil rights.
Thao, a nine-year police force veteran, was the fourth and final officer to be sentenced in connection with Floyd’s death.
“I didn’t intend on doing any malice or … try hurt anyone. That was never my intent. I did the best that I thought I could,” Thao said in court before sentencing.
Derek Chauvin, the white officer seen in a widely circulated cellphone video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, was found guilty of murder in 2021.
Thao had kept bystanders at bay while Chauvin and two other officers subdued Floyd, who was suspected of using a counterfeit $20 bill.
The killing ignited widespread protests against racism and police brutality in the United States and internationally.
Thao’s lawyers did not provide immediate comments on the sentencing.
The other officers present during the incident, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, had held down Floyd’s legs and buttocks while Chauvin knelt on his neck.
Both Lane and Kueng had previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in state court, receiving sentences of 3-1/2 years and three years, respectively.
In a federal trial, Lane and Kueng were also found guilty of violating Floyd’s civil rights, resulting in additional prison time.
Chauvin, convicted of unintentional second-degree murder, was sentenced to 22-1/2 years in state prison, along with a concurrent 21-year sentence on federal charges related to violating Floyd’s civil rights.
