Former Minneapolis Police Officer Tou Thao has been sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison for his involvement in the killing of George Floyd. Thao, who was convicted of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter, showed no remorse or acceptance of responsibility for Floyd’s death during his sentencing hearing.
Thao had previously testified that he acted as a “human traffic cone” by holding back concerned onlookers while former Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes. The incident, captured in bystander video, sparked global protests against police brutality and racism.
During his hearing, Thao spoke at length about his growth as a Christian during his time in jail but maintained his innocence. He drew parallels between his situation and the sufferings endured by biblical figures Job and Jesus. However, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill expressed disappointment at Thao’s lack of remorse, stating that he had hoped for more than just preaching.
Judge Cahill sentenced Thao to 57 months, which is at the top end of the recommended range under state guidelines. The sentence is longer than what prosecutors had sought and what Thao’s attorney had requested. Thao’s sentence will run concurrently with a 3 1/2-year sentence for his separate conviction on a federal civil rights charge.
Thao’s attorney, Robert Paule, announced that they will appeal in both the state and federal cases. Assistant Attorney General Erin Eldridge highlighted Floyd’s final words and emphasized that Thao knew better and was trained to do better. She said Thao facilitated Floyd’s death by allowing it to happen and preventing others from providing medical aid.
The sentencing hearing marked another step in wrapping up the legal cases related to Floyd’s murder. While Floyd’s family members did not attend Thao’s hearing, Eldridge explained that they wanted to grieve in private. The courtroom was mostly filled with journalists, with only a few relatives or friends of Thao present.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison expressed disappointment in Thao’s lack of remorse but respected the imposed sentence. He stated that the sentence provides accountability for the Floyd family and all communities affected by Floyd’s murder.
Judge Cahill’s 177-page ruling found Thao guilty based on evidence from Chauvin’s murder trial and the federal civil rights trial. Cahill determined that Thao’s actions were objectively unreasonable and that he failed in his duty to intervene and provide medical aid.
Thao had rejected a plea bargain and instead agreed to let Cahill decide his case based on evidence from the trials of Chauvin, Thao, and the other former officers involved. Alongside Thao, Chauvin, Lane, and Kueng were convicted in the federal trial, with Chauvin later pleading guilty to federal civil rights charges.
Lane and Kueng received state sentences of 3 and 3 1/2 years respectively, serving concurrently with their federal sentences. Thao’s sentence will also be served concurrently with his federal sentence.
Minnesota inmates typically serve two-thirds of their sentences in prison and one-third on parole, while there is no parole in the federal system.