Derek Chauvin sentencing: Ex-officer sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in prison for George Floyd murder
Credit will be given for 199 days served
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Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, broke his silence to offer “condolences” to his family as Judge Peter Cahill sentenced him to 22 years and six months in prison.
The sentence marks 10 years above the 12.5-year guideline for second-degree unintentional murder, due to aggravating factors. Cahill said he wasn’t going to be “profound” in the court and instead pointed to a 22-page legal argument outlining the rationale for the determination.
It came after the court heard form Chauvin for the first time, as well as four members of the Floyd family.
“I want to give my condolences to Floyd family, there’s going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind,” Chauvin said.
Defence attorney Eric Nelson said whatever sentence Cahill decides, half will believe it’s too lenient and half too draconian or overbearing as the case became the epicentre of a culture war and political divide. “It has weaved its way into nearly every facet of our lives, from the entertainment that we consume to the presidential politics,” he said. “From protests to conspiracy theories”.
Apart from Chauvin himself and Nelson, the only other person to speak on the ex-officer’s behalf was his mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, who said she feared dying before her favourite son is released from prison. “Derek has played over and over in his head the events of that day. I have seen the toll it has taken on him.”
For the family of Floyd, his daughter, two brothers and nephew delivered victim impact statements asking the judge for the maximum sentence without the possibility of parole, probation or time off for good behaviour.
“Although Chauvin will be sentenced today and spend time in prison, he will have the luxury of seeing his family again, talking to them, he will likely get to spend time with them upon his release,” nephew Brandon Williams said.
“George’s murder, this trial, and everything in between has been tragically devastating, our family is forever broken and one thing we cannot get back is George Floyd.”
Hours before sentencing, the court ruled against the defence team’s request for a new trial or for a hearing on jury misconduct.
Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in April following an emotional and tense trial in Minneapolis.
Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years prison
Judge Peter Cahill sentenced Derek Chauvin to 270 months prison, or 22.5 years, marking 10 years over the sentencing guidelines for second degree unintentional murder.
He will receive credit for 199 days served.
Floyd family attorney happy with 22.5 year sentence
Ben Crump called the sentence “historic”, saying it brings the Floyd family closer to healing.
Martin Luther King III ‘disappointed’ at sentence
“Unfortunately, what he received today fell short of what true justice would look like for Mr Floyd and his family,” he said in a tweet.
‘Not basing on public opinion’ says Judge Peter Cahill
While the judge was brief in his remarks before sentencing, he said it wasn’t being based on public opinion and said the full rationale would be included in a 22-page explanation outlining the case in law.
As excerpts of the 22-page document appear post online, here is his conclusion:
“Part of the mission of the Minneapolis Police Department is to give citizens “voice and respect”. Here, Mr Chauvin, rather than pursuing the MPD mission, treated Mr Floyd without respect and denied him the dignity owed to all human beings and which he certainly would have extended to a friend or neighbour. In the Court’s view, 270 months, which amounts to an additional ten years over the presumptive 150-month sentence, is the appropriate sentence.”
Joe Biden says Chauvin sentence ‘appropriate’
From the White House press pool, the president said today’s 22.5-year sentence of Derek Chauvin was appropriate.
“I don’t know all the circumstances that were considered but it seems to me, under the guidelines, that seems to be appropriate,” Biden said.
Watch: Joe Biden reacts to Derek Chauvin sentence
“I’ve not been able to hear anything about what’s happened, how long’s he been sentenced,” he asked before a reporter replied 22.5 years.
“Well I, I don’t know all the circumstances that were considered but it seems to me, under the guidelines, that seems to be appropriate.”
Floyd family reacts to Chauvin’s 22.5 year “slap on the wrist”
The family had asked Peter Cahill for the maximum sentence of 40 years before the decision of 22.5 years was handed down.
Nephew Brandon Williams said after the verdict that Derek Chauvin should have gotten a life sentence, calling the 360 months a “slap on the wrist”.
“We got justice, but not enough justice,” Williams said.
“Twenty-two and a half years is not enough, we deserved a life sentence, we can’t get George back Gianna can’t hug George again.”
“What kind of message are you sending to our country, what kind of message are you sending to the younger kids like Gianna that you can kill a man in cold blood and get a slap on the wrist. That’s like a slap in the face to all of us standing up here.”
Derek Chauvin’s sentencing brings US ‘one step closer to healing’, Floyd family attorney says as world reacts
Derek Chauvin’s sentencing on Friday in the murder of George Floyd brings the US “one step closer to healing”, Ben Crump, the lawyer representing the Floyd family, has said.
Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison on Friday. The sentence is 10 years above the 12.5-year guideline for second-degree unintentional murder, due to aggravating factors.
“22.5 YEARS!” Mr Crump wrote in a tweet, responding to the sentencing.
Chantal Da Silva reports.
Derek Chauvin’s sentencing brings US ‘one step closer to healing’, Floyd family attorney says as world reacts
Others have branded Derek Chauvin’s sentence ‘disappointing’
Read the full Derek Chauvin sentencing order here
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill’s sentencing order of Derek Chauvin has now been made public.
The judge said in sentencing Chauvin to 22.5 years in prison that he was not going to give much detail on his decision, but would make his arguments in a written order.
Derek Chauvin sentencing memeo by davidtaintor on Scribd