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A28 u.s. news
Diahuebs 16 september 2021

Ex-cops accused of violating Floyd’s rights plead not guilty

was working his fourth shift Kueng intend to use their thority, the indictment breaks
without supervision when lack of experience as a de- down the counts. A count
he encountered Floyd. Tom fense, Thao, who had been against Chauvin alleges he
Plunkett, Kueng’s attorney, an officer for more than eight violated Floyd’s right to be
said his client was on his years, should be tried alone. free from unreasonable sei-
third shift without supervi- zure and unreasonable force
sion. Both attorneys said lan- Leung gave no indication of by a police officer.
guage in the indictment that how he would rule. He said
indicates otherwise would be this case has video evidence, Thao and Kueng are charged
unfair. which shows what each de- with violating Floyd’s right
fendant did or did not do. He to be free from unreasonable
“Common sense dictates that also said separating trials in seizure by not intervening to
a law officer with four days federal court is not common, stop Chauvin as he knelt on
(AP) — Four former Min- murder in Floyd’s death. The on the job would be less apt but it does happen. He asked Floyd’s neck. All four offi-
neapolis police officers other three men appeared to intervene,” Gray argued. prosecutors why the men cers are charged with depriv-
charged with violating remotely alongside their at- should be tried together. ing Floyd of his rights when
George Floyd’s civil rights torneys. Prosecutor Manda Sertich they failed to provide medical
pleaded not guilty Tues- said the men were officers as Sertich said the state’s case care.
day in a federal hearing U.S. Magistrate Judge Tony of December 2019 — they against the men was separat-
that included arguments Leung asked each man sepa- graduated from the police ed due to space restrictions The four former officers
on several pretrial mo- rately how he would plea, academy and were sworn in. caused by the COVID-19 were also charged in state
tions, including requests and each clearly responded: pandemic, but federal court court, where Chauvin was
to hold separate trials. “Not guilty.” Kueng, Thao and Lane are has more space. She also convicted in April of murder
also asking that their fed- said jurors will know about and manslaughter. The other
A federal grand jury indicted The hearing also addressed eral trials be separated from Chauvin’s murder convic- three former officers face
Derek Chauvin, Thomas roughly 40 pretrial motions, Chauvin’s, saying they would tion whether he is sitting in state trial next March on aid-
Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao though many were similar. be unfairly prejudiced if they the courtroom with the other ing and abetting counts.
in May for allegedly depriv- Most of the motions were went to trial alongside him. three former officers or not.
ing Floyd of his rights while routine, such as agreeing Chauvin is also charged in a
acting under government when names of witnesses Plunkett wrote in court doc- As Floyd was being arrest- separate federal indictment
authority on May 25, 2020, would be disclosed. But uments that evidence against ed, he repeatedly said he alleging he violated the civil
as Floyd, 46, was held face- Leung heard oral arguments Chauvin would confuse the couldn’t breathe as Chauvin rights of a 14-year-old boy in
down, handcuffed and not on two issues, and ordered jury and deprive Kueng of pinned him to the ground. 2017.
resisting in a restraint that was attorneys to file additional his right to a fair trial. Gray Kueng and Lane helped re-
captured on bystander video. written arguments on those argued in court that “every- strain Floyd; Kueng knelt on Meanwhile, the federal gov-
His death led to worldwide motions. body knows Derek Chauvin Floyd’s back, and Lane held ernment is investigating po-
protests and calls for change was convicted of murder” so Floyd’s legs, according to licing practices in Minneapo-
in policing. Attorneys for Lane and Kue- a jury would have a hard time evidence in state court. Thao lis. The investigation known
ng asked the judge to remove presuming the other former held back bystanders and as a “pattern or practice” —
All four of the men appeared language from the indict- officers’ innocence. kept them from intervening examining whether there is a
at the hearing remotely via ment that says their clients during the 9 1/2-minute re- pattern or practice of uncon-
videoconference. Chauvin, had been police officers since Attorney Robert Paule argued straint. stitutional or unlawful polic-
wearing a plain T-shirt, ap- December 2019. Earl Gray, that much of the evidence ing — includes a sweeping
peared from a small room in Lane’s attorney, said his cli- against Chauvin would not While all four officers are review of the entire police
the state’s maximum security ent was still in training and come into play against his cli- charged broadly with depriv- department. It may result in
prison, where he is serving remained under supervision ent, Thao. Paule also argued ing Floyd of his rights while major changes to policing in
a 22 1/2-year sentence for for months. Gray said Lane that since it appears Lane and acting under government au- the Minnesota city.

Slender Man stabbing victim’s family ‘nervous’ about release

(AP) — A judge’s decision to re- Maura McMahon, said she’s not al- survived. limited internet use.
lease a Wisconsin woman who lowed access to Weier’s transporta-
helped stab her sixth-grade tion plans. She didn’t immediately Weier and Geyser later told investi- Leutner’s family declined to speak
classmate to please online hor- respond to a message Tuesday. gators they attacked Leutner to earn during Friday’s court hearing on the
ror character Slender Man from a place as Slender Man’s servants plan. Lyons said Tuesday that the
a mental health facility has left Steve Lyons, a spokesman for victim and prevent him from killing their family is “reasonably comfortable”
the victim’s family nervous and Payton Leutner’s family, said Tues- families. Bohren sentenced Weier in with the conditions but Leutner’s
afraid, a spokesman said Tuesday. day that they’re disappointed with December 2017 to 25 years at Win- safety and the community’s safety
Bohren’s decision and Weier should nebago and Geyser to 40 years at the must come first.
Waukesha County Judge Michael have served more time at Winnebago. facility in February 2018.
Bohren on Friday ordered 19-year- He added that Leutner no longer
old Anissa Weier released from the “We’re just nervous that she’s go- Weier petitioned for release in March, lives in Waukesha County and is now
Winnebago Mental Health Institute ing to be out,” Lyons said. “We’re saying she had exhausted her treat- a college sophomore with a part-time
in Oshkosh, ruling she’s no longer a nervous about the potential of what ment options. Bohren ruled in July job. He declined to name the col-
threat and conditions on her release could happen.” that she no longer posed a threat. He lege or her employer. He did say that
should protect both her and the com- signed off on a conditional release she just bought her first used car on
munity. Weier has spent nearly four Weier and a friend, Morgan Geyser, plan Friday before ordering the facil- Monday and has two cats, Salem and
years at the facility. both were committed to Winneba- ity to release her on Monday. Lilith.
go after pleading guilty to attacking
Bohren scheduled her release for Leutner when they were all 12 years Under the plan, Weier must live with
Monday, but it’s unclear whether old. her father, continue to receive psy-
Weier has left the facility. Officials chiatric care and submit to around-
with the state Department of Health Geyser stabbed Leutner multiple the-clock GPS monitoring. She can’t
Services, which oversees Winnebago, times in a Waukesha park as Weier have any contact with Leutner’s fam-
have repeatedly refused to so much as urged her on. Leutner suffered 19 ily, can’t possess any weapons and
acknowledge Weier was a patient out wounds — including one that nar- can’t use social media. The Depart-
of privacy concerns. Weier’s attorney, rowly missed her heart — and barely ment of Corrections will monitor her