Cop who killed George Floyd gets 21 more years in prison/Channel 24 Collage
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, previously sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the murder of African-American George Floyd, received another sentence.
The fact is that Derek Chauvin was sentenced to another 21 year in prison on separate federal charges of violating Floyd's civil rights.
Chauvin, who pleaded guilty in December, is already serving a 22.5-year sentence in a Minnesota state prison for Floyd's murder. According to the court's verdict, he will serve both terms at the same time , but he will be transferred to a federal prison.
District Judge Paul Magnuson read out the verdict, saying he credits Chauvin with the 7 months he has already served in prison, excluding them from the 21-year federal sentence. His federal sentence will be followed by 5 years of parole.
How the trial went
Before sentencing, Judge Peter Cahill of the American city of Minneapolis explained what exactly prompted him to appoint such a term in prison. According to Peter Cahill, Chauvin “abused his position and the power given to him” and showed “particular cruelty towards George Floyd.”
At the final meeting, the judge heard the relatives of the victim and the accused. In particular:
- George Floyd's brother Philoniz, told how his life changed forever on May 25, 2020, and admitted that he stays awake at night because he is tormented by nightmares: he hears the voice of his brother, who screaming for help.
- Derek Chauvin's mother, Carolyn Polenta, agreed with the words of Floyd's relatives that everyone's life changed after May 25. However, she stressed that she believes in her son's innocence and will always be on his side.
It is curious that the ex-policeman himself took the floor.
Due to additional legal circumstances, I am unable to make a full official statement, but I would like to briefly express my condolences to Floyd's family,” said Derek Chauvin.
We add that in December, Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal charges of depriving Floyd of his civil rights. Under the plea agreement, Chauvin faced a sentence of 20 to 25 years.
Pay attention! 22 years is one of the longest sentences a former police officer has ever received for the use of lethal force.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden, when asked by journalists about how he assessed the sentence to Derek Chauvin, said that he was not familiar with all the details, but stressed that, judging by the main signs, this is a reasonable sentence .
Floyd's murder: the main thing
- In May 2020, American law enforcement officers detained an African American near one of the stores. There, he seemed to be trying to pay off with a fake check for $ 20.
- Derek Chauvin applied a chokehold to Floyd during his arrest. The policeman knelt on Floyd's neck and did not let him breathe for almost 10 minutes.
- After pleas for help, Floyd fell silent. The officers called for paramedics, but it was too late.
- After that, large-scale protests broke out in the United States.
