George Floyd: Ex-Officer Convicted of Manslaughter

Facts

On Monday, Tou Thao, one of the four former Minneapolis officers charged with George Floyd's death, was found guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.¹
In his verdict, Minnesota Judge Peter Cahill who presided over the case said that Thao, "made a conscious decision to actively participate in Floyd's death" by "holding back concerned bystanders" and "declining to render medical aid to Floyd."²
Cahill called Thao's actions "unreasonable," emphasizing that he was under a duty to stop fellow officers' excessive use of force, who engaged Floyd in a dangerous restraint for 9 minutes and 24 seconds while Thao acted as a "human traffic cone."³
The officer — who has previously been convicted on federal charges of violating Floyd's civil rights and is currently serving a 3.5-year sentence — could be sentenced to between 41 to 57 months in prison over these charges. The 37-year-old's sentencing is set for August 7.⁴
While Thao's colleague Derek Chauvin is concurrently serving sentences of 22.5 years and 21 years, other officers Thomas Lane and Alexander Kueng have been sentenced to 3.5 years and three years in prison respectively.⁵
George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who allegedly attempted to make a convenience store purchase with a counterfeit bill, died in May 2020 after Chauvin kneeled on his neck and back while Floyd was handcuffed and lying prone in the street gasping for air.⁶

Left narrative, as provided by CNN. Floyd can never be brought back, but the conviction of the Minneapolis officers involved in his death provides justice to his family and community. This victory of the criminal justice system demonstrates that police brutality will be acted on, and that those who perpetrate it will be held accountable.
Right narrative, as provided by Independent. While Thao certainly played a part in the police response that led to the tragic death of George Floyd, he is no murderer. The officer was on traffic duty when his colleagues were restraining Floyd — he should not be paying the price for their actions.