Police officer Derek Shovin, sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of African American George Floyd, has decided to appeal the sentence, reports ABC News.
A former Minneapolis police officer named 14 reasons for the appeal. So, he argues, Judge Peter Cahill, who passed the verdict, in particular, abused his right by refusing to transfer his trial outside Hennepin County due to publicity during the pre-trial proceedings. He also complained about the refusal of a new trial in his case.
In June, a court sentenced Chauvin, who was found guilty of the death of an African American, to 22.5 years in prison. The prosecution requested 30 years in prison for him.
The jury found the ex-policeman guilty on three counts: premeditated murder of the second degree (without aggravating circumstances), manslaughter and gross disrespect for human life, which inadvertently caused death.
Floyd died in the United States during his arrest. The police used a chokehold on the African American with their knees, despite the fact that he told them that he could not breathe. The prosecution insisted that the choke hold was the cause of Floyd's death. Lawyers, in turn, stated that the African American died due to health problems and drug use.
Three more ex-policemen who, together with Chauvin, participated in the arrest of Floyd, are involved in the case. They will stand trial in the spring of 2022.
US President Joe Biden, after sentencing Chauvin in this case, called the decision appropriate. Floyd's death sparked massive protests in the United States. People spoke out against racism and against police violence.
