Choose to listen to requests to reset trial for two in Floyd killing

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota prosecutors and a protection legal professional for one in every of two former Minneapolis cops who nonetheless face a state trial in George Floyd’s killing have made dueling requests for a brand new trial date, with the state hoping to have a trial as quickly as this summer season, whereas a protection lawyer needs to push it to subsequent spring.

Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are charged with aiding and abetting each second-degree homicide and second-degree manslaughter within the Could 2020 killing of Floyd. Their trial was supposed to start out earlier this month, however Choose Peter Cahill postponed it till Jan. 5, saying that will enhance prospects for a good trial.

However on Friday, state prosecutors requested a speedy trial on behalf of Floyd’s household. Beneath Minnesota regulation, which means the trial might begin in mid-August. Kueng’s protection legal professional, Tom Plunkett, adopted with a doc filed Sunday that seeks an extended delay – till April – as a result of he has a scheduling battle.

Cahill will maintain a listening to on the difficulty Tuesday.

Thao and Kueng have been already convicted of federal counts of violating Floyd’s rights. Their former colleague, Thomas Lane, was additionally convicted on a federal depend and pleaded responsible in Could to a state cost of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. All three are free pending their federal sentencing hearings, which haven’t been set.

Apart from citing a statute that requires a speedy trial, state prosecutors gave no further motive for his or her request. However Minnesota Lawyer Normal Keith Ellison beforehand stated that it was unlucky “for the victims, the witnesses, and neighborhood that the chance to hunt justice has been delayed.”

Plunkett stated in his submitting, which was made public Monday, that he mentioned his request for an extra delay in a teleconference, however the state stated it could not comply with it. Plunkett wrote that Thao’s legal professional, Bob Paule, didn’t object to a different postponement.

Plunkett additionally wrote that there have been two in-chambers conferences – on March 9 and on Could 27 – wherein plea negotiations, trial scheduling, and different issues have been mentioned. He stated he informed the courtroom then that he can be unavailable for trial from January via March.

Cahill additionally presided over final yr’s trial of former Officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of second-degree homicide and sentenced to 22 1/2 years for kneeling on Floyd’s neck because the Black man stated he could not breathe. Chauvin, who’s white, has been in jail since that conviction. He additionally pleaded responsible to a federal civil rights cost.