FORMER Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22-and-a-half-years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.
Judge Peter Cahill sentenced Chauvin, 45, to 270 months prison yesterday, marking 10 years over the sentencing guidelines for second degree unintentional murder.
He will receive credit for 199 days served.
In brief remarks before sentencing, Chauvin offered condolences to Floyd’s family, saying he hopes they eventually get “some peace of mind” in the first time he spoke in court.
Floyd’s seven-year-old daughter said she wishes she could tell her late father that “I miss you and I love you”.
Gianna Floyd’s video interview was played in court during Chauvin’s sentencing hearing.
READ MORE: George Floyd murder trial just tip of iceberg in US move towards justice
Gianna said in the victim impact statement that she believed her father was still with her in spirit and that she wants to know how he got hurt.
“We used to have dinner meals every single night before we went to bed,” she said. “My daddy always used to help me brush my teeth.”
She had a long list of things she would still have liked to do with her father. “I want to play with him, have fun, go on a plane ride,” she said.
Hers was the first of four victim impact statements expected at the sentencing.
Other members of Floyd’s family spoke in court of the pain they felt over his murder and asked for the maximum punishment for Chauvin.
“On behalf of me and my family, we seek the maximum penalty. We don’t want to see no more slaps on the wrist. We’ve been through that already,” said a tearful Terrence Floyd, one of Mr Floyd’s brothers.
Chauvin’s mother Carolyn Pawlenty took the stand to plead for mercy for son, saying his reputation has been unfairly reduced to that of “an aggressive, heartless and uncaring person” and a racist.
“I can tell you that is far from the truth,” she told the judge. “I want this court to know that none of these things are true and that my son is a good man.”
She added: “Derek, I want you to know I have always believed in your innocence, and I will never waver from that.”
“I will be here for you when you come home,” she said.
Chauvin was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes as the black man said he could not breathe and went limp.
Bystander video of Floyd’s arrest for suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill prompted protests around the world and a nationwide reckoning on race and police brutality.
Chauvin chose not to testify at his trial. The only explanation the public has heard from him came from body-camera footage in which he told a bystander at the scene: “We got to control this guy ‘cause he’s a sizable guy ... and it looks like he’s probably on something.”
READ MORE: Biden hails 'giant step forward in the march toward justice' after Chauvin conviction
Under Minnesota statutes, Chauvin was sentenced only on the most serious charge, which carried a maximum sentence of 40 years. But case law dictates that a 30-year sentence would be the practical maximum sentence Judge Cahill could impose without risk of being overturned on appeal.
Prosecutors asked for 30 years, saying Chauvin’s actions were egregious and “shocked the nation’s conscience”.
Defence attorney Eric Nelson requested probation, saying Chauvin was the product of a “broken” system and “believed he was doing his job”. However, he chose not to mention probation in his final statement.
Cahill found that aggravating factors in Floyd’s death warrant going higher than the 12-and-a-half-year sentence recommended by the state’s sentencing guidelines.
The judge found that Chauvin abused his position of authority, treated Floyd with particular cruelty, and that the crime was seen by several children. He also wrote that Chauvin knew the restraint of Floyd was dangerous.
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