For his part in the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man whose killing in 2020 sparked the “Black Lives Matter” movement across the nation, a former US police officer has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
The state and federal sentences will be served concurrently
An accusation of aiding and abetting murder was withdrawn after J Alexander Kueng, a former Minneapolis police officer, entered a guilty plea to second-degree manslaughter in October. The state and federal sentences will be served concurrently because he was already serving a federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights.
While his prison sentence was being read, Kueng made an appearance via video from the US Bureau of Prisons Elkton facility in Lisbon, Ohio. Kueng said, “Nothing, your honour, thank you,” when asked if he had any comments. Floyd’s family’s attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci, and Jeff Storms applauded the decision.
“The sentencing of Alexander Kueng for his role in the murder of George Floyd delivers yet another piece of justice for the Floyd family,” they said in a statement.” While the family faces yet another holiday season without George, we hope that moments like these continue to bring them a measure of peace, knowing that George’s death was not in vain,” the statement added. Kueng was among the four officers who were fired and criminally charged after Floyd’s death.
Kueng was observed knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes
During his restraint, 46-year-old Floyd was captured on camera pleading with the police to release him so he could breathe before he passed away. Before Flyod passed out, Kueng was observed knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. The murder sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality all over the world.
According to the AP news agency, Keung acknowledged in his plea deal that using the technique on Floyd was unreasonable given the circumstances and that he knew from his training that restraint of a handcuffed person in a prone position came with serious risks.