Last officer in George Floyd murder case convicted of state charges

By H. Jiahong Pan

Contributing Writer

Last week, a three-year-long saga of the officers involved in murdering George Floyd finally came to an end with the conviction of the last officer involved in the tragedy.

On May 2, former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao was convicted of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in an opinion written by presiding Judge Peter Cahill and signed Monday evening. As part of an agreement between Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office and Thao, in which he waived his right to a jury trial as well as to cross-examine and confront witnesses and testify in his own defense, the court dismissed the more serious murder charges that Thao aided and abetted Derek Chauvin in Floyd’s death.

The bench trial, held by stipulated evidence, involved Judge Cahill relying on and analyzing the evidence presented by attorneys on both sides. Each side submitted their arguments on January 31, and Cahill had 90 days from that date to render a verdict.

“Like the bystanders, Thao could see Floyd’s life slowly ebbing away as the restraint continued. Yet Thao made a conscious decision to actively participate in Floyd’s death: he held back the concerned bystanders and even prevented an off-duty Minneapolis firefighter from rendering the medical aid Floyd so desperately needed,” wrote Cahill in his opinion convicting Thao of aiding and abetting manslaughter.

He added that Thao retrieved a hobble, a restraint device used to render suspects immobile, but decided to tell his former colleagues not to use it to avoid having a sergeant respond to the scene and a useof-force review. “The short of it: Tou Thao did not want to follow the proper protocol and the work it would entail. George Floyd died as a result.” based on stipulated evidence because they don’t dispute what Thao did that day when George Floyd was murdered.

“It’s just a question of, do the facts indicate that the law has been broken,” Schultz said. Thao’s conviction is especially crucial because no jury was involved. “What jurors have to do besides assess credibility is…they’re not supposed to be–moved by emotion,” says Schultz. “Cahill’s not going to be moved by emotion.”

“My thoughts today are with George Floyd, his young daughter, and his family. Floyd’s loved ones can never have him back, yet they have turned their private tragedy into a public movement for accountability, healing, and justice that keeps Floyd’s legacy vibrant and alive to this day and beyond.” county and federal prosecutorial colleagues, as well as “the community in Minnesota and around the world for their clear, unrelenting focus on accountability and justice.” and Lane’s decision to strike plea deals means that George Floyd Square’s Justice Resolution 001 demand has been met. The demand calls for the four officers involved in murdering George Floyd to be tried in Minneapolis, and is among a list of 24 demands crafted by community activists who reclaimed 38th and Chicago days following his murder.

“All four former Minneapolis Police officers who lynched George Floyd have been found guilty in the city of Minneapolis,” said lead caretaker Marcia Howard in an Instagram post while calling attention to city, county and state officials to meet the remaining demands before community members will entertain discussion on completely reopening the street to traffic.

David Schultz, an attorney who teaches political science at Hamline University, believes both sides agreed to a trial

In a statement released following Tuesday’s conviction, Attorney General Keith Ellison heralded the conviction as a “historic and right” outcome. “It brings one more measure of accountability in the tragic death of George Floyd,” said Ellison.