Disappointment as Chauvin jailed for 22½ years for murder of George Floyd

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22½ years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.

The punishment handed out last night fell short of the 30 years that prosecutors had requested.

With good behaviour, Chauvin, 45, could be paroled after serving two-thirds of his sentence, or about 15 years.

In brief remarks before sentencing, Chauvin offered condolences to Mr Floyd's family, saying he hopes they eventually get "some peace of mind".

Earlier, Mr Floyd's sevenyear-old daughter said she wishes she could tell her late father that "I miss you and I love you".

Gianna Floyd's video interview was played in court on Friday during the sentencing hearing of former Minneapolis officer Chauvin.

Gianna said in the victim impact statement that she believed her father was still with her in spirit and that she wants to know how he got hurt.

"We used to have dinner meals every single night before we went to bed," she said. "My daddy always used to help me brush my teeth."

She had a long list of things she would still have liked to do with her father. "I want to play with him, have fun, go on a plane ride," she said.

Prosecutor Matthew Frank asked the judge to exceed sentencing guidelines and give Chauvin 30 years in prison, saying "tortured is the right word" for what the officer did to Floyd.

"This is not a momentary gunshot, punch to the face. This is nine-and-a-half minutes of cruelty to a man who was helpless and just begging for his life," Mr Frank said.

Chauvin's mother Carolyn Pawlenty took the stand to plead for mercy for son, saying his reputation has been unfairly reduced to that of "an aggressive, heartless and uncaring person" and a racist.

"I can tell you that is far from the truth," she told the judge. "I want this court to know that my son is a good man."

Chauvin was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyd's neck for about nine-and-a-half minutes as the black man said he could not breathe and went limp.

Bystander video of Floyd's arrest for suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill prompted protests around the world and a nationwide reckoning on race and police brutality.

Under Minnesota statutes, Chauvin was sentenced only on the most serious charge, which has a maximum sentence of 40 years. But case law dictates that a 30-year sentence would be the practical maximum sentence Judge Peter Cahill could impose without risk of being overturned on appeal.

Prosecutors asked for 30 years, saying Chauvin's actions were egregious and "shocked the nation's conscience”. Judge Cahill has already found that aggravating factors in Floyd's death warrant going higher than the 12-and-a-half year sentence recommended by sentencing guidelines.

Defence attorney Eric Nelson requested probation, saying Chauvin was the product of a "broken" system and "believed he was doing his job".