Who are the Minneapolis police officers arrested for George Floyd’s death? From Derek Chauvin to Tou Thao
THE MURDER trial of ex-Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin, who was involved in the death of George Floyd, is set to begin.
After a complicated jury selection, jurors are now ready to hear opening statements.
Who are the Minneapolis policer officers arrested for George Floyd's death?
Minnesota Police Department officers Derek Chauvin and Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and Alexander Kueng were at the scene of George Floyd's death on Memorial Day.
On the evening of May 25, they responded to a report of a "forgery in progress".
Police were called to a grocery store that claimed Mr Floyd had used a forged cheque to buy cigarettes.
After Mr Floyd allegedly resisted arrest, officers dragged him from his car and pinned him to the ground.
All four officers were fired from the department the next day.
Chauvin
Video taken by passersby shows Chauvin pressing Mr Floyd down with his knee on his neck and his other knee in the middle of his back.
He continued to do so for nearly nine minutes - even after Mr Floyd lay unconscious, resulting in his death.
He will now face trial including charges of second-degree murder.
Chauvin had previously pleaded not guilty to second and third degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The unintentional second-degree murder charge requires to prosecutors to prove that Chauvin’s conduct was a “substantial causal factor” in Floyd’s death, and that Chauvin was committing felony assault at the time.
The third-degree murder charge would require them to prove that Chauvin caused Floyd’s death through a dangerous act without regard for human life.
The three other officers complicit in Floyd's death - J Alexander Keung, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane - will be tried later this year, charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter.
Tou Thao
In footage of the horrific encounter, fellow officer Thao can be seen to the right of Mr Floyd, ushering the crowds away from the scene.
Thao, along with two other fellow officers fired were each charged on June 3 with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Aiding and abetting second-degree murder carries the same maximum punishment as the underlying offence - 40 years in prison.
Thomas Lane and Alexander Kueng
The city of Minneapolis identified the other two officers as Thomas Lane and J Alexander Kueng.
Both were also fired from the department, and face charges of aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
How did George Floyd die?
A medical examiner’s office on June 1 ruled that his death was a homicide and that he died from asphyxiation.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said Mr Floyd suffered “a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer(s)."
The cause of death was listed as “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression.”
Under “other significant conditions” it said Floyd suffered from heart disease and hypertension, and listed fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use.
Those factors were not listed under cause of death.
A second independent autopsy confirmed homicide saying death was "asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain".
And on June 3, it was revealed Floyd had coronavirus when he died and had tested positive for the disease in early April.