Derek Chauvin Sentenced To 22.5 Years For The Murder Of George Floyd

Derek Chauvin Sentenced To 22.5 Years For The Murder Of George Floyd

The long-anticipated sentencing of Derek Chauvin has finally come.

This past April, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts for murdering George Floyd. Specifically, he was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Now, as a result of his actions, Derek Chauvin has officially been sentenced to 22.5 years.

 

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Prosecutors had asked for a 30 year sentence, and Chauvin’s attorney asked for probation and time served. During the sentencing, Chauvin’s mother spoke.

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Chauvin faced up to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder, up to 25 years for third-degree murder and up to 10 years for manslaughter. However, Chauvin has no prior criminal record.

On May 25th, 2020, Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd‘s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds as three other officers looked on–resulting in his death. Additionally, all four ex-officers–Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung, and Thomas Lane–were charged with violating George Floyd‘s constitutional rights and not providing him any medical attention.

Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, Derek Chauvin, and Tou Thao

Two of the former officers–Tou Thao and J. Alexander Keung–are also facing charges for not intervening when Derek Chauvin was kneeling on George Floyd‘s neck. According to the indictment, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Keung were:

“Aware that [Derek Chauvin] was holding his knee across George Floyd’s neck as Floyd lay handcuffed and unresisting, and that Defendant Chauvin continued to hold Floyd to the ground even after Floyd became unresponsive, and the defendants willfully failed to intervene to stop Defendant Chauvin’s use of unreasonable force.”

As Derek Chauvin‘s trial comes to a close, the three other ex-officers’ joint trial is next. They are due in court in August.

What are your thoughts on George Floyd’s sentencing? Comment down below to let us know.