Attorneys for Kueng, Thao return to court ahead of state trial over George Floyd killing
MINNEAPOLIS -- Prosecutors and defense attorneys for two former Minneapolis police officers charged in the killing of George Floyd were back in court Thursday.
The state trial for J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao is set to begin in just over two weeks.
Lawyers on both sides have filed more than 100 motions to limit testimony or evidence that will be allowed at trial. Hearings on the requests are scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Many of the requests rely heavily on what happened at the previous two trials in Floyd's death. Both sides are using what they learned in the prior trials to try to shape the proceeding in their favor.
Neither Kueng or Thao were in Thursday's hearing. During the proceedings, Judge Peter Cahill agreed to allow expert witnesses from the defense team to discuss "excited delirium," but not how it applies to Floyd. Cahill said he believes it's not a real medical condition. and it has been "debunked."
Lawyers also debated whether having one of the witnesses - a girl who was 9 at the time of the murder - be put through another trial, with the defense being warned by Cahill to be careful with questions and not to try and evoke emotion with her testimony.
Earlier this week, Kueng and Thao began serving their federal sentences for violating Floyd's civil rights.
All four officers involved in the deadly arrest are now behind bars.
