(Reuters) – Three ex-police officers from Minneapolis who participated in George Floyd’s arrest are being tried in St. Paul for violating civil rights.

Last year, their former colleague Derek Chauvin https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ex-policeman-derek-chauvin-be-sentenced-george-floyds-murder-2021-06-25, 45, was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death at the end of a nationally televised state trial in April 2021, and a Minnesota judge sentenced him to 22-1/2 years in prison.

Along with his fellow police officers, federal prosecutors charged Chauvin who is white. Chauvin changed the plea to guilty in December. Thao, Kueng and Lane https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/derek-chauvins-ex-colleagues-face-trial-over-deadly-minneapolis-arrest-2022-01-24 have all pleaded not guilty in the federal case.

The state has charged the three defendants with aiding and abetting Floyd’s second-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. They are currently being held on bail.

Although a maximum sentence of 40 years is possible for aiding or assisting murder, sentencing guidelines could reduce that to as low as 15 years.

Based on the Minnesota attorney general’s complaint, the following summarizes the roles of Thao, Kueng, and Lane in Floyd’s arrest:

ALEXANDER KUENG – 28

Kueng and Lane arrived first outside Cup Foods. This is the same grocery shop where Floyd was accused that he used a fake $20 bill to purchase cigarettes.

The fatal encounter saw Kueng, according to state prosecutors, kneeling down on Floyd’s back with one hand on Floyd’s left wrist, and the other between Chauvin, Lane.

Kueng checked Floyd’s right wrist and found no pulse. According to the complaint, none of the officers moved away from their posts.

THOMAS LANE 38

After Kueng arrived on the scene, Lane ordered Floyd to get out of his vehicle and placed him in handcuffs, according to prosecutors.

Lane, Kueng, and Chauvin used their bodies to keep Floyd from falling onto the ground. According to the complaint Lane was seen lying on his stomach, on top of his legs and pushing his fingers down onto his knees.

Lane asked Lane if he wanted to roll him onto his side. Chauvin replied, “No. We should keep him where we found him.” Lane said that he was worried about “excited delirium” or some other condition. Chauvin replied, “That is why we have him on our stomach.”

TOU THAO. 36

Thao and Chauvin arrived together after Floyd had been taken into custody.

Thao, although he was the sole officer who did not have physical contact with Floyd was a witness to the rest of Chauvin’s restraining tactics.

Thao watched over the crowd, standing between Floyd and three of the other officers lying on Floyd’s back.

The complaint stated that Chauvin asked Chauvin to move off Mr. Floyd’s curb and Thao then put his hands on Chauvin to stop him.