The federal trial against the three officers involved in George Floyd’s murder continues, bringing forth new video footage and possible testimony from one of the officers involved.

The United States federal government charged Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao with violating Floyd’s civil rights and depriving Floyd of his liberty without due process of law.

Opening statements started on Jan. 24 and the trial is ongoing. Prosecution is expected to rest their case on Feb. 14, after which defense will present evidence.

The trial is not being livestreamed like Derek Chauvin’s state murder trial due to differences in federal and state court rules. A small pool of reporters, including a sketch artist, are allowed access into the courtroom. There is also an overflow room where reporters can watch.

The federal trial is bringing forth evidence that wasn’t seen during Chauvin’s murder trial, such as footage from the day Floyd was murdered. If you have not been paying close attention to the trial, here’s an update.

Prosecution shows new body cam recording

On Feb. 10, new footage from Lane’s body camera showed that Kueng and Lane misrepresented the interaction between Floyd and Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers to their superior, Lt. Richard Zimmerman. In the video, Lane and Kueng are heard telling Zimmerman that Floyd was breathing when paramedics arrived on scene, although Kueng was unable to find a pulse. They also did not tell Zimmerman that Chauvin had been kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.

During Zimmerman’s testimony, he said the officers led him to believe Floyd died of an overdose. In the body cam footage, the word overdose was not used but Lane said he thought Floyd was “on something” and the officers found a pipe on him.

Zimmerman said he was not aware of the amount of force Chauvin used until he watched Darnella Frazier’s video of Floyd’s murder until the next day. Zimmerman testified the cell phone video did not match the account Kueng and Lane told him.

During opening statements, Lane’s attorney said he would stand and testify during the trial, but since then, said he will think about it before deciding. Thao and Kueng said they would testify. Defendants don’t usually take the stand because it can be risky, said Professor Myron Orfield, a University of Minnesota law professor.

“He must believe that he has some exculpatory evidence that will make him look less guilty,” Orfield said. “It suggests that something in his behavior or something in his presentation will affect the jury’s belief in his guilt.”

The trial will enter its fourth week on Feb. 14, following the timeline that Judge Paul Magnuson told jurors. The trial was put on pause on Feb. 2 because one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19 and resumed on Feb. 7.

During opening statements, the prosecuting attorney, Samantha Trepel, said the officers ignored clear signs of serious discomfort in Floyd and neglected their training.

Thomas Plunkett, Kueng’s attorney, said MPD did not provide adequate training for Kueng and that he was working his third shift as a police officer when Floyd was murdered during the defense’s opening statement.

After defense argues, the court will move into closing arguments. After that the jury will go into deliberation. If convicted, the officers could face a range of sentences, up to life in prison.

Jae Yates from Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar said it was validating to see the officers charged not just at the state level, but also at the federal level.

“I think even just from a symbolic standpoint, I think that it’s a pretty big deal to charge officers federally,” Yates said. “On the practical side I think that it materially reduces the amount of people that get murdered because cops are afraid that they’re going to potentially face federal prosecution and not just criminal prosecution.”

This story has been updated to reflect new information.