Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years in death of George Floyd
The former police officer, Derek Chauvin, who killed George Floyd on a Minneapolis street last year, was sentenced to 22 and half years in prison today, June 25.
45 year old Chauvin, was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for his role in Floyd’s death.
Derek Chauvin, facing a potentially lengthy prison stay, offered his condolences to the family of George Floyd Friday at the former police officer’s sentencing hearing.
Speaking briefly before his sentencing, Derek offered his condolence to the family of George Floyd but said he couldn’t say more due to pending legal matter.
Chauvin’s post-verdict motion for a new trial was denied by a judge hours before the hearing.
Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill ruled Thursday night that Chauvin “failed to demonstrate … the Court abused its discretion or committed error such that Defendant was deprived of his constitutional right to a fair trial.”
Cahill also ruled that Chauvin failed to demonstrate prosecutorial or juror misconduct.
Defense attorneys had argued that “errors, abuses of discretion, prosecutorial and jury misconduct” made the trial unfair.
The sentencing hearing opened with victims’ impact statements, including an emotional video from Floyd’s seven-year-old daughter, Gianna, who said she will miss her dad when asked what she will say.
“I ask about him all the time,” the little girl said, responding to questions about her dad. I miss you and I love you,” she said
Floyd’s two brothers and a nephew spoke about the family celebration he will miss. Philonise Floyd revealed he often has nightmares in which he hears his brother pleading for his life and calling out for their mother.
“My family and I have been given a life sentence. We will never get George back,” he said. Terrence Floyd, another brother of George asked for the maximum penalty.
“We been through that already — in my community, in my culture. We don’t want to see no more slaps on the wrist,” George’s nephew Brandon Williams said. “
Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty also grew emotional as she described him as her favorite son. She said the happiest moments in her life were when Chauvin was born and when she pinned his badge on his uniform for the first time.
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“Derek, I want you to know I’ve always believed in your innocence, and I will never waver from that,” she said.
A federal grand jury indicted all four former officers in connection with Floyd’s death, alleging they violated his constitutional rights, according to court documents filed in federal court in Minnesota and are due to be arraigned on the charges in September, according to a court filing.
Chauvin also was charged in a separate indictment related to an incident in which he allegedly used unreasonable force on a Minneapolis 14-year-old in September 2017, the Justice Department said in a statement. He is also expected to be arraigned in that case in September, according to court filings.
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