A judge on Friday sentenced former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to 22 and a half years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.
That sentence was less than the 40-year limit for the murder of Floyd, a black man whose death was taped while the white policeman chauvinized on the 25th for US police reform.
But it was a decade longer than the alleged sentence of second degree murder, the heaviest of the three charges for which Chauvin, 45, was convicted in court in April.
The jury also convicted him of third degree murder and second degree manslaughter. Prosecutors wanted Chauvin to serve 30 years in prison while the former cop’s attorney asked for parole.
Hennepin District Judge Peter Cahill handed 18-year-old police veteran Chauvin a tougher sentence than the sentencing guidelines recommended after finding four aggravating factors in his crimes.
These were Chauvin, who as a police officer had abused a position of trust and authority, had treated Floyd with “particular cruelty”, had committed a crime with a group of at least three other people – his police colleagues – and the fact that children were present the commission of the offense.
“The verdict is not based on emotion or sympathy,” said Cahill, who later added that he had not based the verdict on public opinion or “to send any messages.”
“But at the same time, I want to acknowledge the deep and tremendous pain that all families feel, especially the Floyd family,” said the judge. You have our sympathy. “
Cahill said the case had also been “painful across Hennepin County, across the state of Minnesota, and even across the country.”
President Joe Biden, when briefed on the length of Chauvin’s sentence, said, “Well, I am not aware of all of the circumstances that are being considered, but it seems to me, according to the guidelines, that it seems appropriate.”
Three of Chauvin’s ex-cops who stood by when Chauvin killed Floyd are awaiting trial on Minnesota state related charges next March.
All four men are also charged with violating Floyd’s civil rights in the arrest, which began after Floyd allegedly used a counterfeit $ 20 bill on a purchase.
The conviction on Friday came after emotional statements by relatives of the victim about the effects on the victim, a petition for clemency from Chauvin’s mother and Chauvin himself, who expressed “condolences to the Floyd family.”
“I ask about him all the time,” said Floyd’s 7-year-old daughter Gianna in a video shown at the beginning of the sentencing. “I asked how my father was hurt.”
When asked what she would say to her father if she could see him, Gianna said in the video: “I miss you and I love you.”
George Floyd’s 7-year-old daughter Gianna testifies on a cell phone video before former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of her father George Floyd during a sentencing ceremony in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, on the 25th picture from the video.
Pool via Reuters
Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank found Floyd lying on the floor and handcuffed when Chauvin continued to hold him back with his knee, ignoring pleas from people in a crowd and rescue workers.
“He says to Mr. Chauvin, ‘I can’t breathe, I’m dying,'” Frank said of Floyd.
“This is nine and a half minutes of cruelty towards a man who begged for his life,” said the prosecutor.
Floyd’s brother Terrence Floyd turned to Chauvin after asking the judge to impose the maximum sentence and saying he wanted to ask “why?”
“What did you think? What did you think the day you had your knee on my brother’s neck?” Terrence asked Floyd, who sometimes paused to regain his composure.
“When you knew he was no longer threatening. When he was handcuffed? Why didn’t you at least get up?
Another brother, Philonise Floyd, said that “I haven’t slept really well since George’s murder because I keep having nightmares that keep begging my brother and asking for his life.”
“My family and I were sentenced to life imprisonment. We’ll never get George back. Dads are a daughter’s first love,” said Philonise. “He will never be able to take Gianna to the altar at her wedding and take part in the magical moments of her life like a daddy-daughter dance, a sweet 16 party, a prom, graduation parties.”
Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams said Chauvin murdered his uncle in a “malicious and insidious display of hatred and abuse of power.”
“Not only did he kill George, he showed total consideration for human life,” Williams said. “You saw it, I saw it, and millions of people in this country and around the world witnessed this act of hatred.”
“Words just cannot express the pain, agony and suffering our family and friends have endured since George was murdered,” he said. “It was really unimaginable.”
Chauvin said in a very brief statement during the sentencing: “I cannot make a full statement at this time, but I would like to express my condolences to the Floyd family.”
“There will be some other information in the future that will be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind,” said Chauvin.
Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin speaks at his conviction hearing and the judge while awaiting his conviction after speaking on a still image for murder in Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, on June 25, 2021 convicted on video.
Pool via Reuters
Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, said: “It has been difficult for me to hear and read what the media, the public and the prosecution think is an aggressive, heartless and indifferent person.
“My son’s identity has also been reduced as a racist. I want this court to know that none of this is true and that my son is a good man,” said Pawlenty.
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In this image from the video, Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, becomes emotional as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is on trial in the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis on Friday, June 25, 2021 while testifying about the impact of the victims Presiding against the conviction is former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted on the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.
Court TV via AP | swimming pool
Cahill postponed the trial in the face of a state criminal complaint filed in May against the three officers and Chauvin for violating Floyd’s civil rights. The judge said he wanted to handle the federal case first and also wanted to put some time between Chauvin’s state trial and that of the other three police officers.
On Friday, in an order denying chauvin’s retrial, Cahill wrote that Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, had failed to demonstrate that the judge committed errors that deprived chauvin of fair trial or that prosecutors committed wrongdoing.
Cahill also denied a defense request for a hearing on possible jury misconduct, saying Chauvin’s attorney failed to determine that a juror made false testimony in jury selection.
