One of four former Minneapolis Police officers suspected of killing George Floyd may plead not guilty to all charges.
J Alexander Kueng, 26, who is prosecuted along with Derek Chauvin, 44, Tou Thao, 34, and Thomas Lane, 37, announced his intentions in a court filing according to DailyMail.com.
Defense lawyer Thomas Plunkett’s papers state that the ex-cop plans to plead not guilty and use self-defense, justifiable force, and permitted use of force.
It was reportedly charged after appearing at the Hennepin County District Court for a pretrial hearing with his fellow defendant officers.
Chauvin, who pressed his knee nearly nine minutes into Floyd ‘s neck during an arrest as Floyd pleaded “I can’t breathe” faces three charges-second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree homicide.
Meanwhile the other three officers are charged with assisting and encouraging second-degree murder and manslaughter.
For the ex-officers the next court appearance was set for September with a tentative trial date set for 8 March 2021.
George Floyd died May 25 while in Minneapolis police custody. During an arrest, Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd ‘s neck for nearly nine minutes, as Floyd begged “I can’t breathe.”
The killing of Floyd by the police was captured on bystander video, triggered outrage and waves of protests against racism and police brutality around the world.
An independent autopsy revealed that ex-cop Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd after kneeing on his neck ’caused asphyxia that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain.’ He was buried in his hometown of Houston on 9 June.