One local expert says former Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin's legal team did him no favors in a memo sent to the judge ahead of his sentencing for the murder of George Floyd Friday.
Former Hennepin County Public Defender Mary Moriarity talked with WCCO's Chad Hartman about the memo and said it shows no remorse on the part of their client and she described it as "defiant". Moriarity says she expect it to play a part in Judge Peter Cahill's sentencing decision.
“There is absolutely no indication, any empathy, any sympathy, expressions of remorse, for what happened to George Floyd,” Moriarty said. “In fact, I would describe that memo as being fairly defiant and I think that the intended audience is not Judge Cahill.”
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Moriarity says the big question involves how many people will give victim impact statements at the sentencing. She says that portion of the proceedings will be very emotional. Chauvin could be sentenced up to 40 years in prison.
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“I was thinking somewhere between 20 and 25 years, but I have to say, after reading that memo I think the judge would go closer to 30,” Moriarty predicted. “Obviously we won’t know until we hear Judge Cahill, but that’s just my best guess given that memo. It didn’t really give Cahill any room and we know how Cahill feels, based on his writing about what happened.”
Friday's proceedings are scheduled to begin at 1:30pm. WCCO will carry the Chauvin sentencing live on-air and on our Facebook and Twitter pages online.