Posted on 06/04/2020 5:14:13 PM PDT by NautiNurse
Attorneys for two former rookie Minneapolis police officers on Thursday rejected accusations that their clients aided and abetted the killing of George Floyd, casting blame instead on a senior officer who allegedly ignored his younger counterparts.
[snip]
“What is my client supposed to do but follow what the [senior] officer says?” Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, argued in court. “The strength of this case, your honor, in my opinion is extremely weak.”
[snip]
Defense attorneys said Kueng, 26, of Plymouth, was working his third shift ever as a full-time officer and Lane, 37, of St. Paul, was working his fourth day as a full-time officer on the day they encountered Floyd.
[snip]
“At all times Mr. Kueng and Mr. Lane turned their attention to that 19-year veteran …” Plunkett said. “[Kueng] was trying — they were trying to communicate that this situation needs to change direction.”
Charging documents show that Lane asked twice if they should roll Floyd onto his side and was rebuffed by Chauvin. Kueng took Floyd’s pulse and told his colleagues, “I couldn’t find one,” according to the criminal complaint.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
The point being made is that both officers had a week or less as police officers. They are drawing attention to the lack of experience of the officers, and deference to the commands and instructions of the senior officer on the scene, and not to some jackass theory of Nazi complicity.
It is likely that both of them will be able to make bail and if they see jail again, it will be after a conviction. And that is not a certainty at this point.
It means that they were rookies with very little time on the streets.
I agree. Regarding the two rookies, this is a horrific legal lynching.
Bail is $1M for the rookies.
Earl Gray is a top defense lawyer in this town.
This is a very thin, if not nonexistent, case against the rookies.
But when you have a lynch mob demanding "justice" some public officials bow to the mob.
“They were police officers when they committed their acts, they are charged as police officers, and their employment status is simply ex. Calling them ex police officers in regards to the charges, suggest they committed these as civilians, not as police officers under the color of uniform.”
Logic does not always coexist with convention.
The body cams will make or break their cases.
Fledging cops vs a doped up violent career criminal.
Tough position.
They are all 4 dead men walking...may as well build a gallows on the town square, charge admission, have pay per view, and let the crowd tear apart their bodies....and then have a big national lootathon....
no bail for some. Inordinate bail for others.
White privilege is a tricky thing.
BTW back in the day, my father had to make decided whether to hire a lawyer for my brother or post bail. His white privilege was only partial.
I was waiting for this to be brought up. I can’t speak for that police department, but in the Border Patrol seniority means a lot. A lot of the time a senior Agent will show up and take charge if something is happening that is out of the ordinary.
That does not mean that others should not prevent someone senior from breaking the law but a lot of junior guys feel like they have to oeby the senior Agents.
I don’t understand why the chief of police hasn’t been fired. That’s pretty typical in these cases.
They were ex-officers when charged.
Because he’s a democrat and it’s trumps fault.
That does not mean that others should not prevent someone senior from breaking the law
I recall reading that you had to have special training to use the chock hold. Given their limited experience I doubt if they had completed the course and would not know what was permissible and what was not. Regardless, the police autopsy showed the guy didn’t die of because of being chocked. .
Can they buy a bail bond? Wonder how much it is for $1M? Might be safer in jail however.
Of course. Ugh.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.