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The federal civil rights trial against the three former Minnesota officers who participated in the murder of George Floyd will soon head to a jury for deliberation.
Closing arguments wrapped up in the US District Court in St. Paul on Tuesday (February 22) after three weeks of testimony. The three ex-cops –– Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Keung, and Tou Thao –– each took the stand, testifying about the May 25, 2020 fatal arrest.
Lane told the court that he believed the restraint used on Floyd was "reasonable" and admitted that he didn't realize how serious the 46-year-old's condition was until an ambulance carried him away from the Cup Foods Convenience Store.
Thao, who took on the role of controlling the crowd during the arrest, snapped at prosecutors who asked why didn't do more to get Derek Chauvin off of Floyd. "I think I trust a 19-year veteran to figure it out," Thao said on the stand.
According to ABC News, the jury heard the closing arguments from defense attorneys and prosecutors, but were sent home before being handed the case due to inclement weather. The outlet reported that jurors are expected to receive the case Wednesday morning (February 23) to begin weighing the evidence.
In this trial, all three of the officers are all charged with depriving Floyd's right under the color of the law. Keung and Thou also face charges that they "willfully failed to intervene" when Chauvin had his knee on Floyd's neck and back for more than nine minutes.
The officers also have an upcoming state trial for charges of aiding and abetting murder.
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