Specifically, Chauvin is charged with violating Mr Floyd’s right to be free from unreasonable seizure and unreasonable force by a police officer. Mr Lane, Mr Thao and Mr Kueng made their initial court appearances yesterday via videoconference in US District Court in Minneapolis. Chauvin was convicted last month on state charges of murder and manslaughter in Mr Floyd’s death and is in Minnesota’s only maximum-security prison as he awaits sentencing. Mr Kueng and Mr Lane also helped restrain Mr Floyd – state prosecutors have said Mr Kueng knelt on Mr Floyd’s back and Mr Lane held down Mr Floyd’s legs. Ben Crump and the team of attorneys for Mr Floyd’s family said the civil rights charges reinforce “the strength and wisdom” of the Constitution.

Source: Irish Independent May 08, 2021 01:37 UTC