Minnesota Judge Peter Cahill sentenced Derek Chauvin 22.5 years imprisonment
Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was sentenced to 270 months in prison Friday for second-degree murder in the killing of George Floyd last spring.
Minnesota District Court Judge Peter Cahill stated that a 22-page sentencing memo would provide more detail about his reasoning for the sentence.
He said, “Most of it will be in writing. 22-page memorandum. To emphasize the fact the determining the correct sentence in any case is a legal analyze.” It’s applying the law to the facts in a specific case. Instead of trying to explain everything here, I recommend you read the legal analysis.
He said that the sentence was not motivated “public opinion”, “emotion, or sympathy” and gave Chauvin credit for the 199 days he had already served.
Cahill stated, “I want to recognize the deep and immense pain that all families are feeling,” Floyd’s family included. “You have my sympathies and I understand the pain you are feeling. I am sorry for the pain of all those present in this courtroom. But also the Floyd family outside of this courtroom.
A sentence of 20 to 25 years was expected from the judge, with the maximum sentence being 40 and the average sentence for similar crimes being around 12.5 years. Floyd’s brothers requested that the court sentence Floyd to a maximum of 40 years. Prosecutors, however, demanded 30.
Floyd’s brothers read impact statement before the sentencing. Lawyers from both sides gave remarks and Chauvin briefly expressed condolences for the Floyd family.
Terrence Floyd, one brother of the victim, delivered an emotional impact statement to court. “On May 25, 2020 my brother was killed, everyone knows, Derek Chauvin.” “The facts in this case were proved beyond reasonable doubt, and three guilty verdicts were rendered.”
“I wanted to find out why the man was so mad. What was your thinking? When you put your knee on my brother’s neck, what was your mind thinking? You didn’t get up even though you knew he wasn’t a threat. “Why did you remain there?”
Chauvin looked on unmoving with a buzzed look and was wearing a gray suit. His face was partially hidden behind a blue mask.
Floyd cried and asked the judge for the maximum penalty.
Chauvin’s actions were captured on horrifying video and circulated widely online. This sparked a wave of anti-police brutality and social justice protests that lasted months. Floyd lay on his back, being held by officers for 9 minutes 29 seconds. Onlookers begged him to relax and Floyd begged for the life of his father.
Floyd was accused of passing a $20 fake bill at a corner store nearby, and eventually became limp.
In April, after a month-long trial, a jury found him guilty of second-degree unintentional killing, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
The sentencing started at 2:30 p.m. ET or 1:30 PM CT.
He said, “I had to watch George die for hours over the course of Officer Derek Chauvin’s trial.” “I had to live George’s torture to death for a whole year.”
Matt Frank, the prosecutor, identified four factors that were previously considered by the court as aggravating factors and could be used to increase Chauvin’s sentence according to state guidelines. These included the fact that children were present at the scene of the incident.
He said that one of the children said, “We’ve got to call the police on police,”.” “How can you process that as a nine-year-old?”
Other charges included abuse of authority, disrespect for the victim’s dignity, and failure to provide immediate medical attention when Floyd stopped breathing.
He said, “We believe they justifiably a greatly increased sentence.” “This isn’t a typical case of second-degree murder.”
Chauvin’s mother Carolyn Pawlenty addressed the court as well, speaking for the family.
She said, “It was difficult for me to hear and read what the media, public, and prosecution team believe Derek is to be,” “I can assure you that this is far from reality. My son’s identity is also reduced to one of a racist. I want the court to understand that none of these statements are true and that my son is a good person.
She looked at her son, who sometimes looked down during her comments, and said that her proudest moments were his birth and graduation from the police academy.
She said, “Derek, I want to let you know that I have always believed and will continue to believe in your innocence.” “I have received many letters from people all over the globe who believe in your innocence.
Eric Nelson, a defense attorney, countered Frank’s aggravating factors by presenting a list of mitigating factors.
Nelson stated that Chauvin has been awarded multiple times for saving lives and was honored for his valor. He was also a U.S. Army Veteran with a family and had no criminal records.
Nelson stated that Nelson was a person who loved to help others. He’s not entering this to be a career criminal with six, five, or four points. He’s entering this because he has lived an honorable lifestyle and never violated the law.
Chauvin said that he was unable to speak due to federal litigation, but he offered his condolences the Floyd family.
Experts predicted that he would spend 20-25 years in prison. However, he was sentenced to a maximum of 40 years. For the second-degree murder case, the average sentence is 12 and a half years in prison. A prisoner can be paroled after serving approximately two-thirds of their sentence if they are good citizens.
Ben Crump, civil rights lawyer, was the legal team representing George Floyd’s family and praised the sentence in an official statement.
They said that the historic sentence brought Floyd’s family and nation closer to healing, delivering closure and accountability. “For the first time, a police officer who wrongly claimed the life of a Black person was held accountable. This shouldn’t be an unusual incident, but it is. Police continue to kill Black people year after year without any consequences. Today, however, we make a significant progress with Chauvin’s sentencing. This is something that was impossible a very short while ago. We now hope that Chauvin will be convicted of the federal charges against him, and that the other officers face the consequences for their actions. This would be an important step towards justice.
Cahill refused Chauvin’s request to have a new trial before the sentencing. Nelson, the defense attorney, had argued that intense publicity had tainted jury pools and that the trial should not have taken place in Minneapolis.
A defense request to have a hearing on possible jury misconduct was also denied by the judge. Nelson claimed that a juror was not candid during jury selection, because he did not mention his participation last summer in a march to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Prosecutors countered that the juror was open about his views.
Chauvin’s defense team will appeal.
