Former US police officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22.5 years in jail for the murder of George Floyd. However, some have called the reduced sentence unjust.
Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison Friday in the murder of George Floyd — as a Minnesota judge ripped the ex-cop for showing “particular cruelty” during the fatal encounter last year.
Chauvin, 45, showed zero emotion as Judge Peter Cahill handed down the sentence in Hennepin County Court. “This is based on your abuse of a position of trust and authority and also the cruelty shown to George Floyd,” Cahill said. “[What] the sentence is not based on is emotion or sympathy, but at the same time, I want to acknowledge the deep and tremendous pain that all the families are feeling, especially the Floyd family. You have our sympathies.” The sentencing came after Chauvin, wearing a light grey suit, white shirt, and a freshly shaved head, delivered a brief statement apologizing to the Floyd family.
“Due to some additional legal matters at hand, I cannot give a full formal statement at this time, but briefly, I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family,” Chauvin told the court.
“There is going to be some other information in the future that will be of interest, and I hope things will give you some peace of mind. Thank you.” Protesters outside of the Hennepin County Courthouse screamed in disgust as the punishment was read out — with some in the crowd blasting the judge for not giving Chauvin the maximum penalty of 40 years. “That sh-t ain’t right, man. Twenty-two and a half years? I’ve lost sleep over this man; I cried over this man. This is reality,” said protester Michael Smith.
“This ain’t justice … That is so far from unacceptable. He murdered someone.”
Under the sentencing guidelines, Chauvin could get out early on good behavior after serving two-thirds of his sentence or just under 15 years.
Ahead of Chauvin’s comments, several of Floyd’s family members, including his seven-year-old daughter, Gianna, gave emotional victim impact statements criticizing the cruelty their loved one endured in his final moments while asking the court to impose a maximum sentence.
“On Monday, May 25, 2020, George Perry Floyd was murdered by Derek Chauvin in a malicious, insidious display of hate and abuse of power,” Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams told the court.
“Not only did he kill George, but he also displayed a total lack of consideration of human life as he did so.”
Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, also said she believes her son is innocent and has always supported him “one hundred percent.”
“Derek is a quiet, thoughtful, honorable, and selfless man, he has a big heart, and he always has put others before his own,” Pawlenty, who has never spoken publicly about her son’s case, said as she held back tears.
“The public will never know the loving and caring man that his family does.”In April,
Chauvin, 45, was found guilty of all three charges against him — second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter — following nearly three weeks of testimony from 45 witnesses.
Under Minnesota law, Chauvin could only be locked up on second-degree murder — the top charge against him that carries a sentence of between 10 years and eight months and 15 years — but in May, Cahill ruled the convicted killer’s crimes warranted a more extended prison stint. Cahill found that prosecutors had proven two of the four factors that allow for a lengthier sentence, saying the former officer acted with “particular cruelty” when he killed Floyd, which made him eligible for up to 40 years behind bars.
