The three former Minneapolis police officers who watched as their partner pinned George Floyd to the ground and crushed his neck with a knee for more than eight minutes have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
Thomas Lane, 37, J. Alexander Kueng, 26, and Tou Thao, 34, face two charges each of aiding and abetting their fellow former officer Derek Chauvin in connection to Floyd’s death, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Wednesday.
Charges against Chauvin were also upgraded to second-degree murder, carrying the possibility of a longer sentence if convicted
According to Minnesota law, third-degree murder carries a sentence of up to 25 years and is filed in cases where someone’s death was caused “without intent.” Second-degree murder, or a murder that is not premeditated, carries a sentence of up to 40 years.
