Former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years and 6 months in prison by Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahillon on Friday for the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.
Last year, the incident led to the biggest outcry in the US against the racial injustice and mass protest ‘Black Lives Matter’ all around the globe.
Prosecutor Matthew Frank asked the judge to exceed the sentencing to 30 Years imprisonment, saying, “tortured is the right word” for what the former officer has done to Floyd but the sentence fell short of 30 years and with good behaviour, Chauvin, could be paroled after serving two-thirds of his punishment, i.e. about 15 years.
The former cop Chauvin broke his long last silence in the courtroom on Friday as he faced imprisonment for the murder, and offered condolence to Floyd’s family, adding that he hopes more information coming out will give them “some peace of mind”.
Floyd’s family members were disappointed, they took the stand and sorrowed about his death asking for the maximum penalty for Chauvin. Floyd’s brother Terrence Floyd said, “We don’t want to see any more slaps on the wrist. We’ve been through that already.”
In a video played in the courtroom, Floyd’s 7-year-old daughter, Gianna, said, “If I could say something to my father now, it would be I miss you and I love You.”
The defence requested probation saying Chauvin became the product of “broken system” and believed “he was doing his job.”
Chauvin was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 30 seconds leading to strangulation and went limp. Chauvin has been held since his conviction in Oak Park Heights at the state’s maximum-security prison.
After his death, the protest broke out in the US and around the world against racial discrimination. The rallies took place in the cities holding placards, social media was filled with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.