8th August, 2023
Ex-Minneapolis cop Tou Thao, who held off bystanders as George Floyd was pinned to the ground by Derek Chauvin in 2020, was sentenced to 57 months in prison Monday for his role in Floyd’s death.
Thao was one of four officers tied to Floyd’s death, which was captured on video and sparked a global movement on police brutality and social justice. Thao was the last to have his case decided.
On Monday, Thao cited passages from the Bible for 23 minutes before his sentencing.
“George Floyd’s last words were heard across the world, but more importantly they were heard by Tou Thao and we cannot forget them now three years later,” prosecutor Erin Eldridge said.
Thao did not apologise in his speech.
This caught the attention of presiding Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill, who gave Thao a sentence on the higher end of the guidelines on the state charges of second-degree aiding and abetting manslaughter. He was convicted of the charges in May.
“To be perfectly honest, after three years [of] reflection, I was hoping for a little more remorse, regret, acknowledgment of some responsibility, and less preaching,” Cahill told Thao.
“Suffice it to say that I think your culpability is less than Mr. Chauvin, but well above Mr. [J. Alexander] Kueng and Mr. [Thomas] Lane as an experienced officer in the best position to save Mr. Floyd.”
Thao is serving a federal sentence for depriving Floyd of his civil rights for not coming to Floyd’s aid. His term will run concurrently with the federal sentence of 3.5 years in prison, and then be transferred to a Minnesota facility to finish his state term.
The ex-officer will get credit for 340 days already served.
Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.
He later was handed an additional 20-year sentence on federal charges for violating Floyd’s civil rights.
Keung pleaded guilty to state charges of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison.
Lane was also convicted of federal civil rights violations and pleaded guilty to state-level aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter changes. He was sentenced to three years in prison.