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u.s. news Dialuna 28 Juni 2021

Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death

(AP) — Former Minneap- the intersection where Floyd
olis police Officer Derek was pinned to the pavement
Chauvin was sentenced is now known, members
Friday to 22 1/2 years in of the crowd broke into ap-
prison for the murder of plause, and several said,
George Floyd, whose dy- “We’ll take it.”
ing gasps under Chauvin’s
knee led to the biggest Chauvin was immediate-
outcry against racial in- ly led back to prison. He
justice in the U.S. in gen- showed little emotion when
erations. the judge pronounced the
sentence. His eyes moved
The punishment — which rapidly around the court-
came after Chauvin broke room, his COVID-19 mask
his yearlong silence to of- obscuring much of his face.
fer condolences to the Floyd
family and express hope that The fired white officer was
they eventually have “some convicted in April of second-
peace of mind” — is one of degree unintentional mur-
the longest prison terms ever der, third-degree murder and
imposed on a U.S. police of- second-degree manslaughter
ficer in the killing of a Black for pressing his knee against
person. Floyd’s neck for up to 9 1/2
minutes as the 46-year-old
Still, Floyd family members man gasped that he couldn’t
and others were disappoint- breathe and went limp on
ed. The sentence fell short of May 25, 2020.
the 30 years prosecutors had
requested. And with good Bystander video of Floyd’s
behavior, Chauvin, 45, could arrest on suspicion of passing
get out on parole after serving a counterfeit $20 bill at a cor- cold blood with a knee on Chauvin ranged from from
two-thirds of his sentence, or ner store prompted protests “I want this court to know his neck for 9 minutes and six years, nine months, to life
about 15 years. around the world and led to that none of these things are 29 seconds execution-style behind bars, with the median
scattered violence in Minne- true and that my son is a good in broad daylight.” LaTonya being 15 years.
“Just because it’s the most apolis and beyond, as well as man,” she told the judge, Floyd, George Floyd’s sis-
time doesn’t mean it’s demands for overhauling po- adding: “Derek, I want you to ter, said of the punishment: With Chauvin’s sentencing,
enough time,” said Nekima lice departments. know I have always believed “That’s nothing. That’s noth- the Floyd family and Black
Levy Armstrong, a Minne- in your innocence, and I will ing. He should have got the America witnessed some-
apolis protest leader. On Friday, Chauvin, who never waver from that.” max, period.” thing of a rarity: In the small
did not testify at his trial, re- number of instances in which
Judge Peter Cahill went be- moved his mask and turned “I will be here for you when The concrete barricades, ra- officers accused of brutality
yond the 12 1/2-year sen- toward the Floyd family, you come home,” she said. zor wire and National Guard or other misconduct against
tence prescribed under state speaking only briefly because patrols at the courthouse Black people have gone to
guidelines, citing Chauvin’s of what he called “some addi- Prosecutor Matthew Frank, during Chauvin’s three-week trial, the list of acquittals and
“abuse of a position of trust tional legal matters at hand” in asking the judge to exceed trial in the spring were gone mistrials is longer than the
and authority and also the — an apparent reference to the sentencing guidelines, Friday, reflecting an easing of list of sentencings after con-
particular cruelty” shown to the federal civil rights trial, said “tortured is the right tensions since the verdict. viction.
Floyd. where his words could be word” for what the officer
used against him. did to Floyd. Before the sentencing, the In recent years, the acquittals
Floyd family attorney Ben judge denied Chauvin’s re- have included officers tried
Crump said the family had “I do want to give my con- “This is not a momentary quest for a new trial. The in the deaths of Philando
gotten “some measure of ac- dolences to the Floyd fam- gunshot, punch to the face. defense had argued that the Castile in suburban Minne-
countability” but is hoping ily. There’s going to be some This is 9½ minutes of cruelty intense publicity tainted the apolis and Terence Crutcher
Chauvin gets the maximum other information in the fu- to a man who was helpless jury pool and that the trial in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
at his upcoming federal civil ture that would be of interest. and just begging for his life,” should have been moved out
rights trial. Crump said this And I hope things will give Frank said. of Minneapolis. “That’s why the world has
was the longest sentence a you some peace of mind,” he watched this trial, because
police officer has ever re- said without further explana- Floyd family members had The judge also rejected a de- it is a rare occurrence,” said
ceived in Minnesota. tion. tearfully asked the judge to fense request for a hearing Arizona-based civil rights at-
impose the maximum, which into possible juror miscon- torney Benjamin Taylor.
But he added: “Real justice Defense attorney Eric Nel- was 40 years. Several spoke duct. Nelson had accused
in America will be Black men son had asked that Chauvin before the sentence, and his a juror of not being candid Chauvin has been held since
and Black women and people be let off on probation, saying 7-year-old daughter, Gianna, during jury selection because his conviction at the state’s
of color who will not have to the former officer’s “brain is was seen in a recorded video. he didn’t mention his partici- maximum-security prison
fear being killed by the police littered with what-ifs” from pation in a march last sum- in Oak Park Heights, where
just because the color of their that day: “What if I just did “I miss you and I love you,” mer to honor the Rev. Martin he has been kept in a cell by
skin. That would be real jus- not agree to go in that day? Gianna Floyd said in the Luther King Jr. Prosecutors himself for his own protec-
tice.” What if things had gone dif- video when asked what she countered the juror had been tion, his meals brought to
ferently? What if I never re- would say to her daddy. She open about his views. him.
Outside the courthouse, a sponded to that call? What if? had a list of things she would
crowd of about 50 people What if? What if?” have liked to do with him: “I Philip Stinson, a criminal The three other officers in-
clasped hands or placed them want to play with him, have justice professor at Bowling volved in Floyd’s arrest are
on each other’s shoulders. Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn fun, go on a plane ride.” Green State University, said scheduled for trial in March
The reaction was subdued as Pawlenty, pleaded for mercy 11 non-federal law officers, on state charges of aiding and
people debated whether the for her son, saying his repu- Afterward, Floyd’s nephew including Chauvin, have abetting both murder and
sentence was long enough. tation has been unfairly re- Brandon Williams said the been convicted of murder for manslaughter. They will also
Some cursed in disgust. duced to that of “an aggres- sentence was insufficient, on-duty deaths since 2005. stand trial with Chauvin on
sive, heartless and uncaring “when you think about The penalties for the nine the federal charges. No date
At George Floyd Square, as person” and a racist. George being murdered, in who were sentenced before has been set for that trial.