https://portside.org/2021-06-25/chauvin-gets-225-years-murder-george-floyd

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in April of murdering George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, outside a convenience store in May 2020 was sentenced Friday afternoon to 22.5 years in prison.

Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill, who presided over the trial, said that he was "not basing my sentence on public opinion or on any attempt to send any message" as he explained he was adding 10 years to Chauvin's sentence due to the aggravating factors of abuse of authority and "particular cruelty."

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents Floyd's relatives, tweeted that "this historic sentence brings the Floyd family and our nation one step closer to healing by delivering closure and accountability."

In a statement, Ben Feist, chief programs officer at the ACLU of Minnesota, said, "Today, for the first time in state history, a white officer will face prison time for murdering a Black man."

"While this may help heal our grieving community, this rare moment of consequence for killings by police does not represent justice," Feist continued. "Justice is about more than a single sentence or a single verdict: Justice would mean George Floyd was still alive today with his daughter, his girlfriend, his family, and his community."

"The systems that led to Mr. Floyd's murder by police are still intact, and police are still on track to kill 1,000 people this year," Feist added. "We must redouble our efforts to end police abuse of power, disparate treatment, and excessive force against Black and Brown communities."

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said at a press conference that "today's sentencing is not justice, but it is another moment of real accountability on the road to justice."

On April 20, Chauvin, a 19-year Minneapolis Police Department veteran with at least 17 prior complaints against him, was found guilty on all counts—second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter—at the end of a three-week trial.

Prosecutors on Friday argued that there were four aggravating factors in the case: abuse of a position of trust and authority as a police officer; commission of a crime in the presence children; commission of a crime as part of a group with at least three other officer; and "particular cruelty."

Last month, four Minneapolis police officers—Chauvin, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane—were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly violating Floyd's civil rights during his fatal arrest.

"This is not a typical second-degree murder," asserted Assistant Minnesota Attorney General Matthew Frank, who asked for a 30-year sentence. "This is egregious."

"This is the time for the criminal justice system to say, 'we hear you', 'we recognize that this harm is real, and we know we can recognize the severity of this crime,'" Frank added.

During emotional victim impact statements, Floyd's 7-year-old daughter, Gianna Floyd, said of her father, "I miss him and I love him."

"I ask about him all the time," she said. "I want to play with him... We used to have dinner every single night before I went to bed; he used to help me brush my teeth."

Terrence Floyd, George's brother, said that he wants to ask Chauvin: "Why? What were you thinking? What was going through your head when you had your knee on my brother's neck, when you knew that he posed no threat and you had him handcuffed—why did you stay there?"

"We don't want to see any more slaps on the wrist," Floyd said in advocating the maximum sentence for Chauvin. "My community and my culture have been though this. If the roles were reversed, there wouldn't be any case, we would be under the jail"

Philonise Floyd, another one of George's brothers, said that "my life changed forever... Every day I have begged for justice to be served." 

"I haven't had a real night's sleep because of the constant nightmares, hearing my brother begging and pleading for his life... saying please officer; begging for his mom," he told the court.

"For an entire year I have had to relive George being tortured to death," Philonise Floyd said. "With a smirk on his face and children present, Chauvin had no regard for human life, George's life," Floyd said.

"I have been lifting my voice tirelessly so George's death won't be in vain," he added before calling for the maximum sentence.

Chauvin briefly addressed the court before his sentencing, expressing "condolences" to Floyd's family, but no remorse for his actions.

On May 25, 2020, Chauvin—who, with colleagues, responded to a call about a man allegedly spending a counterfeit $20 bill in the Cup Foods convenient store in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood—knelt on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes despite pleas that he could not breathe.

Witnesses including multiple police officers testified during the trial that Chauvin's use of force was "totally unnecessary."

Hours before his sentencing, Cahill denied a request from Eric Nelson, Chauvin's attorney, for a new trial, as well as the defense's request for a jury misconduct hearing.

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Brett Wilkins is staff writer for Common Dreams.