Former Minneapolis police officerJ. Alexander Kuenghas been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in state prison for his role inGeorge Floyd’s death.
Kueng, 29, declined the opportunity to address the court ahead of Friday’s sentencing, according to the Associated Press, after he pleaded guilty to one state count of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in October.
Attorneys for Kueng and Floyd’s family did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Ben Crump, the attorney who represents Floyd’s family, said in a statement ahead of the hearing that the sentencing “delivers yet another piece of justice for the Floyd family,” according to CNN.
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“While the family faces yet another holiday season without George, we hope that moments like these continue to bring them a measure of peace, knowing that George’s death was not in vain,” Crump continued.
Kueng’s attorney Thomas Plunkett blamed Minneapolis Police Department and Chief Medaria Arradondo for their lack of training and leadership.
George Floyd, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office/ap
“Mr. Kueng, the rookie, sits in prison one year for every day he served the city,” Plunkett said, according to AP. “Justice has become nothing more than mean-spirited revenge.”
After he kneeled on Floyd’s back when he died May 25, 2020 death, Kueng took a plea deal that dropped the aiding and abetting murder charge against him, ABC News reported.
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In July, Kueng and fellow officer Tou Thao were sentenced to three years and three-and-a-half years, respectively, for “depriving [Floyd] of his Constitutional rights.” The pair wasconvicted of violating Floyd’s civil rights, along with fellow ex-officerThomas Lane, in February.
Kueng will serve his state and federal sentences at the same time, and with time served, he will likely serve two-and-a-half years, AP reports.
Derek Chauvin, the White officer who pinned his knee to Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes,received the heftiest sentence of 22.5 years in prisonafter he wasconvicted of all charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.
RELATED VIDEO: Derek Chauvin Sentenced to 22.5 Years in Prison for Murder of George Floyd
Chauvin, 46, was alsosentenced to 21 years in federal prisonin July afterpleading guilty to violating Floyd’s civil rights.
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source: people.com
