Thomas K. Lane was the last of three former officers to testify in the federal trial over Floyd’s death, paving the way for closing arguments Tuesday.
during the fatal May 2020 arrest, testified he twice pressed Derek Chauvin, then also a police officer, to roll Floyd onto his side after he had stopped resisting but was rebuffed and did nothing to further challenge the officer. Chauvin was convicted in April 2021 of murdering Floyd.
Lane, who was holding Floyd’s legs, testified he could still see movement on Floyd’s back that suggested he was still breathing but again asked Chauvin whether they should reposition the man. Chauvin, who was pressing his knees into Floyd’s neck and upper back, said nothing, according to Lane.Body-camera footage shows struggle leading to George Floyd’s fatal police encounter
Lane testified he was reassured because he saw the veins on Floyd’s arms “sticking up,” which he believed indicated blood pressure — though he could not tell Trepel precisely where he had learned that. But Lane appeared to choke up as he recalled seeing Floyd’s body flipped over to be placed on a medical stretcher, giving him a full view of his face for the first time since he had been placed on the ground. Asked by his attorney Earl Gray about what had gone through his mind, Lane, who cleared his throat several times and grabbed a tissue, replied, “He didn’t look good.