Ex-Police Officer Thomas Lane Sentenced For Aiding and Abetting in George Floyd's Murder

Former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane was sentenced to three years in prison on Wednesday on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the murder of George Floyd.

Lane held Floyd’s legs to the ground for nine minutes while fellow ex-police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck on May 25, 2020. Lane had only been working as a police officer for four days when Floyd was killed.

Lane and two fellow former Minneapolis police officers Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng were sentenced in February on charges of violating George Floyd’s civil rights by failing to render medical aid while Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes, per ABC.

Lane testified in federal court that he asked Chauvin to reposition Floyd twice while restraining him but was denied both times. All three officers were sentenced to 30 months in prison. Lane is currently serving his federal sentence in a prison in Colorado.

According to NBC, Lane plead guilty in a Hennepin County court in May to a charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. He also said: “I now make no claim that I am innocent,” during his May hearing. Members of the media, Lane’s family, or Floyd’s family were permitted in the courtroom as the verdict was read Wednesday.

Lane plead guilty to the charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in May. He was sentenced Wednesday to serve three years in prison. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped the top charge against him of aiding and abetting in second-degree murder.