More than two years after the killing of African American George Floyd in a police operation in the USA, another former police officer involved has to go to prison: Thomas Lane (39) was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on Thursday in a federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota. as reported by the “New York Times” and the broadcaster CNN, among others.
White ex-cop Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on Floyd's neck, was sentenced to 22 years and six months for murder in a Minneapolis court.
He's already serving that sentence.
Earlier this month, a federal court sentenced the 46-year-old to an additional 21 years in prison.
In February, Lane and his colleagues Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, who were also involved at the time, were found guilty in federal court in St. Paul of violating Floyd's constitutional civil rights.
The former police officers were accused of failing to provide medical assistance.
Kueng and Thao were also found guilty of failing to try to stop Chauvin's use of violence.
The sentences against these two men have not yet been announced.
The death of African American Floyd on May 25, 2020 in a brutal police operation in Minneapolis triggered demonstrations against racism and police violence in the United States.
Videos document how police officers pushed the unarmed man to the ground.
White officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for a good nine minutes while Floyd begged him to breathe.
His colleagues Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane did not intervene despite Chauvin's actions.
According to the autopsy, Floyd lost consciousness – and died.