Court clears way for third-degree murder charges against officers involved in death of George Floyd

July 2, 2021 carleyshaffer1 US 0

FILE - This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows from left, former Minneapolis police Officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. A more detailed trial schedule for three former Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting in the death of George Floyd has been set for next March, according to an order made public Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Last month, a judge pushed the trial of Lane, Kueng and Thao out to next March, in part because he wanted publicity from the trial of ex-officer Derek Chauvin to cool down, and partly to allow a federal case against the officers to go forward first. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP File)

From left, fmr. Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. (Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP File)

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UPDATED 3:48 PM PT – Friday, July 2, 2021

The Minnesota Court of Appeals cleared the way for three former police officers involved in the death of George Floyd, to be charged with aiding and abetting third-degree murder.

This week the court reversed a previous order that had denied prosecutors from charging former officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao with third-degree murder. The former officers had originally been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder as well as second-degree manslaughter, but were never charged with murder in the third degree.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 11: Former Minneapolis Police officer Thomas Lane leaves the Hennepin County Family Justice Center after a pre trial hearing on September 11, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lane, charged with aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, was met by a group of demonstrators outside the building. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Fmr. Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane leaves the Hennepin County Family Justice Center after a pre-trial hearing on September 11, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Derek Chauvin was found guilty of both second- and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter. He has been sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.

The appellate court argued the decision to reverse Chauvin’s charge from second- to third-degree murder would require the reversal of the charges placed on the other officers.

The three officers are scheduled to stand trial in March of next year. They along with Derek Chauvin also face federal civil rights charges in Floyd’s death.