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Ex-Minneapolis cop pleads guilty in George Floyd killing

Published:Monday | October 24, 2022 | 12:06 PM
This combo of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota, show Tou Thao, left, and J. Alexander Kueng. Keung has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd. The former police officer entered the plea Monday, October 24, 2022, just as jury selection was about to begin in his trial. Jury selection for Thao was expected to begin later Monday. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A former Minneapolis police officer pleaded guilty Monday to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd just as jury selection was about to begin.

Another former officer waived his right to a jury trial, setting up an unusual proceeding in which the judge will issue a verdict after lawyers submit written arguments.

The plea deal for J. Alexander Kueng calls for 3 1/2 years in prison, with prosecutors agreeing to drop a count of aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

Kueng is the second officer to plead guilty to the state charge, following Thomas Lane, who pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Their former colleague, Tou Thao, rejected a plea deal earlier this year, telling a judge it “would be lying” to accept any such deal.

On Monday, he agreed to go forward with a modified proceeding called a trial by stipulated evidence, in which he accepts certain evidence against him and waives his rights to a trial by jury and to testify.

The two sides will work out agreed-upon evidence against Thao and will prepare written closing arguments.

They will submit those to Judge Peter Cahill by November 17, with Cahill to rule on guilt or innocence within 90 days.

The process includes an agreement to drop the aiding murder charge if Thao is convicted on the lesser charge.

With such a conviction, Thao would likely get about four years in prison.

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