Listen to coverage of the Derek Chauvin sentencing on Audacy
Judge Peter Cahill has sentenced Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to 22.5 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.
Chauvin was convicted in April on all three counts brought against him, including second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter after it took a jury only 10 hours to decide on the guilty verdict.
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Speculation has surrounded the sentencing decision made by Cahill as Chauvin could have received a sentence anywhere from probation to 30 years in prison. Would he go light or would he go heavy? Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has said he felt "bad" for the ex-cop and didn't want the sentencing to be about revenge.
"I hope we never forget that people who are defendants in our criminal justice system, that they're human beings," Ellison said. "They're people. I mean, George Floyd was a human being. And so I'm not going to ever forget that everybody in this process is a person."
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Prior to the sentencing, Judge Cahill said there were four aggravating factors allowing him to disregard the sentencing recommendations and serve Chauvin a higher sentence.
The four factors ended up being a direct cause for Chauvin receiving the 22.5 sentence.
Experts predicted beforehand that Chauvin would receive somewhere between 20-30 years.
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The sentencing started with statements from both the defense and prosecution.
While Chauvin's lawyer, Eric Nelson, addressed the court, Chauvin was asked by Judge Cahill to join his lawyer at the stand giving him the opportunity to speak.
Many expected Chauvin not to speak, but he shared that due to other legal constraints at the moment, he will not be able to share all of his thoughts.
"I am not able to give a full formal statement at this time. I do want to give my condolences to the Floyd family," Chauvin said.
Chauvin said that there would be some information coming in the future that will be of interest to the Floyd family.
After a 15-minute break Cahill dealt the sentence for Chauvin saying that his comments are brief but attached a 22-page report on the sentencing.
Cahill said that the sentencing is not based on emotion, sympathy, or public opinion, while he still acknowledges how the Floyd family is feeling, but instead it is based on the law.
Chauvin’s defense team had requested a new trial and motioned for a Schwartz hearing over possible misconduct. But, just hours before the sentencing was scheduled to begin, Cahill denied the request citing three reasons.
1. Defendant has failed to demonstrate that the Court abused its discretion or committed error such that Defendant was deprived of his constitutional right to a fair trial.
2. Defendant has failed to demonstrate that the State engaged in prosecutorial misconduct such that Defendant was deprived of his constitutional right to a fair trial.
3. Defendant has failed to establish a prima facie case of juror misconduct or that a juror gave false testimony during voir dire to warrant an evidentiary hearing pursuant to Schwartz v. Minneapolis Suburban Bus Co., 104 N.W.2d 301 (Minn. 1960); State v. Usee, 800 N.W.2d 192
At the sentencing, there were four victim impact statements read. One was Floyd's daughter Gianna Floyd who recalled brushing her teeth with her father overnight before bed.
When asked what she would say to him if she could see him today, she said, "I miss you, and I love you."
Another statement was read by Floyd's nephew, Brandon Williams, who said that he and his family is traumatized and "forever broken." Williams brought up that while Chauvin was sentenced today, he will get to see his family again one day, while they will never see Floyd again.
Terrence Floyd, George Floyd's brother, spoke and asked why Chauvin didn't just get up when his brother was restrained and no longer "posed a threat."
"We have been given a life sentence," Philonise Floyd said, referring to his brother's death.
Chauvin's mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, spoke on behalf of her entire family. Pawlenty called attention to Chauvin's history as an officer, saying that he has always put other's lives above his own. She went on saying the narrative that her son is an abusive and hateful person is wrong.
"My son is a good man," Pawlenty said.
Pawlenty asked the court not to give her son a lengthy sentence as it would also be a sentence for her and her husband.
Chauvin is now set to serve a 22.5 year sentence and was immediately sent into custody.
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