Lawyers finish reviewing motions ahead of trial for ex-officers
From left, former officer J Alexander Kueng and former officer Tou Thao.
Friday, lawyers and a judge finished discussing motions for the upcoming state trial for former Minneapolis officers J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao.
As previously reported, a review of more than 100 pre-trial motions began Thursday.
During Thursday’s session, Judge Peter Cahill and lawyers for J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao began laying the groundwork for the upcoming trial, which is scheduled to have jury selection begin on Oct. 24.
The men are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
Kueng and Thao weren’t in attendance for either session, with Cahill calling it “logistically impossible” for them to appear just days after the start of their federal prison sentences.
RELATED: Federal prison locations for Kueng, Thao revealed
Attorneys and Juge Cahill made it through about 100 motions Thursday and quickly moved through the remaining 70 in two hours Friday morning.
Among the topics discussed Friday were witnesses’ outfits and Darnella Frazier, the teenage bystander who recorded George Floyd’s murder.
As in the Derek Chauvin trial, Cahill ordered witnesses to not wear any outfits with signage or writing on it. Witness Donald Williams, who testified in the Chauvin trial, was specifically mentioned because he testified while wearing an undershirt that said “Black Excellence,” which was partially visible.
The judge admitted Friday that he didn’t notice the lettering on Williams’ shirt during the Chauvin trial but said he’ll keep a close eye on witnesses to ensure something similar doesn’t happen in this case.
Additionally, Cahill ruled that the lawyers can ask about Frazier’s GoFundMe related to the case. The defense said it may show bias in her testimony.
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