Officer Tou Thao [left], looks on as officers Derek Chauvin, J.A. Kueng and Thomas Lane [right], kneeling on George Floyd on May 1, 2020

All four of the officers involved in George Floyd’s death have now been charged and face 40 years behind bars.
Former Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao have been charged with aiding and abetting felony murder. All now face 40 years behind bars for their roles in George Floyd’s death.
Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were all present when Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck in Minneapolis on Monday for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Minnesota AG charged the trio with aiding and abetting second degree murder which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years.
Chauvin was originally charged with second degree murder which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years but he now faces 40 years behind bars too after being hit with an additional charge of second degree murder.

Former Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng [center], and Tou Thao [right] have been charged with aiding and abetting felony murder. All now face 40 years behind bars for their roles in George Floyd’s death

The charges come after a week of global outrage and civil unrest across America during which millions called for the officers to be brought to justice.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon: ‘I strongly believe these developments are in the interest of justice for Mr Floyd, his family, this community and this state.’
He said he did not allow public pressure to influence his decision and warned it would be ‘months’ before he and his team had build a ‘solid’ enough case to go to trial.
Chauvin is already in custody and one of the other three cops was taken into custody today. The other two are expected to be taken into custody by the end of the day.

‘Together, a very strong experienced team, we reviewed the evidence and we have something to announce today.
‘Thank you for the patience of the people they’ve shown me in pursuit of justice,’ he said.
He added that the case was under investigation and asked for anyone with evidence to come forward with it.
‘We are investigating as quickly as we can and as thoroughly as we can. Every single link in the prosecutorial chain must be strong.
‘Trying this case will not be an easy thing. George Floyd mattered. His life had value and we will seek justice for him and for you and we will find it,’ said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday’s news conference.
‘I say this not because we doubt our resources or our ability but history does show there are clear challenges here and we are going to be working very hard to support that endeavor.
‘To the Floyd family, I say: George Floyd mattered. His life had value and we will seek justice for him and for you and we will find it.
‘The very fact that we have filed these charges means that we believe in it.’
He warned the investigation would take ‘months’ and said he wanted to build a ‘solid case’ and not rush a trial.
‘It will take a while and I can’t set a deadline on that, he said.

Ellison added that the charges being brought should not bring an end to the global outrage over injustice that Floyd’s death has caused.
‘A protest can shake a tree and make the fruit fall down but after that fruit is in reach, collecting it and making the jam must follow.
‘The demonstrations and protests are dramatic and necessary but building just institutions is more of a slow grind. We have to begin that work now,’ he said.
The Floyd family called the charges a ‘bittersweet moment’. They wanted Chauvin to be hit with first degree murder charges.
All four cops were fired when the video surfaced last week but the three others were not charged initially, to the dismay of Floyd and protesters around the world who say they are just as complicit because they did nothing to prevent Floyd’s death.
The case was taken out of the hands of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and handed over to Minnesota AG Keith Ellison earlier this week after a groundswell of outrage over how the case had been handled to date.