Trial of 3 cops in Floyd death delayed by COVID-19 diagnosis

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s rights was abruptly recessed on Wednesday after one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19.

Judge Paul Magnuson says the court is in recess until Monday.

The officer who tested positive wasn’t named by the court.

Federal prosecutors say Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao deprived Floyd of his rights when they failed to give him medical aid as Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the Black man’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes while Floyd was handcuffed, facedown and gasping for air. Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A medical doctor from out-of-state was expected to be among the government's next witnesses as testimony continues in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s rights.

Federal prosecutors say Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao deprived Floyd of his rights when they failed to give him medical aid as Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the Black man’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes while Floyd was handcuffed, facedown and gasping for air. Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene.

The May 2020 videotaped killing triggered protests worldwide and a reexamination of racism and policing.

Prosecutors said they plan to call a doctor to the stand Wednesday, though they did not publicly share the physician's name.

Testimony so far this week has included that of Dr. Andrew Baker — the chief medical examiner for Hennepin County who deemed Floyd's death a homicide. He testified Tuesday that he initially told prosecutors after Floyd’s autopsy that there was no physical...