Former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd in May 2020, KARE 11 reported.
Lane, along with fellow ex-officers Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng, was convicted in a federal trial in February of violating Floyd's civil rights by not stopping officer Derek Chauvin when he knelt on his neck for nine minutes.
As part of the deal for pleading guilty on Wednesday, Lane will serve three years in a federal facility, to be served concurrently with his federal sentence, which has not yet been announced, according to KARE 11.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement that "today my thoughts are once again with the victims, George Floyd, and his family. Nothing will bring Floyd back. He should still be with us today."
Ellison added that "I am pleased Thomas Lane has accepted responsibility for his role in Floyd's death. His acknowledgment he did something wrong is an important step toward healing the wounds of the Floyd family, our community, and the nation. While accountability is not justice, this is a significant moment in this case and a necessary resolution on our continued journey to justice."
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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