Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, has been sentenced for violating George Floyd’s civil rights to 21 years in federal prison. Chauvin, who pleaded guilty to violating George Floyd’s civil rights in December, will be required to make restitution.
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson stated that Chauvin must be held accountable for his actions during sentencing. This included the destruction of the lives and property of Floyd’s three other officers.
The judge stated, “I don’t really know why you did this,” To put your knees on someone’s neck and wait for them to die is just wrong. Your conduct is unacceptable and offensive.
Magnuson accepted Chauvin’s plea bargain in May. It called for a sentence between 20 and 25 years. Magnuson reduced seven months of his 21-year sentence to compensate for time already served. Last year, Chauvin was convicted by a state court of murder and manslaughter in connection to Floyd’s death in May 2020. He was sentenced to 22 1/2 Years. He will be serving both the federal and state sentences simultaneously in federal prison.
Chauvin, a White man, killed Floyd by holding the unarmed Black man on the ground with his knee for 9 1/2 mins, despite Floyd’s fading pleas to “I can’t breath.” Floyd’s death caused protests around the world and forced a national reckoning with police brutality and racism.
According to CBS Minnesota, Chauvin expressed his gratitude for Floyd’s children before Thursday’s sentencing. He also said that they had “excellent guidance” in becoming responsible adults. He did not apologize.
Philonise Floyd Floyd, Floyd’s brother, requested a life sentence. He also stated that he had suffered from nightmares since the death of his brother. CBS Minnesota reports that Floyd was granted a life sentence.
The prosecution argued that Floyd’s actions in Floyd’s death were cold-blooded, and unnecessarily. They also claimed that Chauvin had a history in misusing restraints. Chauvin’s plea included an admission of violating the rights of a 14-year-old Black boy who he had restrained in a separate case in 2017.
Instead, the defense asked for 20 years. Chauvin accepted responsibility for his actions and was sentenced to 22 1/2 year imprisonment by a Floyd state court for Floyd’s murder. Attorney Eric Nelson stated that Chauvin’s “remorse” will be revealed to the Court.
Chauvin pleaded guilty to violating Floyd’s civil rights. He admitted for the first-time that he kept Floyd’s knee on his neck, even after he became unconscious. This led to his death. The ex-officer admitted that he had willfully denied Floyd his right to be freed from unreasonable seizure and unreasonable force by police officers.
Chauvin appeals his murder conviction. He argues that jurors were intimidated and prejudiced by pre-trial publicity.
In February, three other ex-police officers from Minneapolis — Tou Thao and J. Alexander Keung — were convicted on federal civil rights charges related to Floyd’s murder. Magnuson has not yet set sentencing dates.
After pleading guilty to second-degree manslaughter in state court, Lane will be sentenced Sept. 21. Thao and Kueng declined plea agreements and will be tried in state courts Oct. 24 for aiding and abetting.
