Prosecution, defense outline potential witness lists ahead of state trial of 3 ex-officers

Monday, prosecutors released an amended list of witnesses who could be called to the stand during the state trial for three former Minneapolis police officers.

Nearly 400 names are on the amended witness list the prosecution has compiled in the case involving former officers J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, who are charged in George Floyd’s death.

Among the names on the prosecution’s list are members of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.

The note accompanying the list, submitted by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, states, “if any other witnesses become known prior to the trial of this action, this list will be amended and a copy delivered to defense counsel.”

The defense, meanwhile, has compiled a list of:

• 65 potential witnesses in Kueng’s case, as well as “any and all witnesses identified in the State’s witness list; any and all witnesses identified in the investigative materials (addresses contained in reports); any and all witnesses identified by Co-Defendant’s Tao and Lane.”
• Nine potential witnesses in Lane’s case, as well as “any witnesses listed in the State’s Witness List and the other defendants’ lists.”
• 53 potential witnesses in Thao’s case, as well as “all witnesses on the State’s witness list; any rebuttal witnesses; and any character witnesses should the State open the door to character traits.”

The state trial for the former officers has been continued to June 13.