Chauvin’s jail sentence a rarity
It was a viral video that forever changed the American conversation on race and justice.
Thirteen months later, a Minnesota judge sentenced former police officer Derek Chauvin to 221⁄2 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, a black man whose desperate gasps for air beneath the knee of the white officer were seen around the world.
Chauvin, who was fired after the killing and then convicted by a jury in April on charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, had faced up to 40 years in prison.
In rendering his sentence yesterday, Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill, who oversaw Chauvin’s trial, said he had based the sentence on the facts of the case and not ‘‘public opinion’’.
‘‘But at the same time, I want to acknowledge the deep and tremendous pain that all the families are feeling, especially the Floyd family,’’ Cahill said.
The killing on May 25, 2020, captured in a gruesome Facebook video, shook the US and forced a painful reckoning on issues of race and police brutality that continues to play out across a divided nation. Chauvin’s conviction, a rarity in a country roiled by multiple
high-profile cases of black people being killed by police, was praised by Floyd’s family and activists as a historic moment of justice and a potential sign of change.
Before the sentencing, the court heard victim impact statements from four members of Floyd’s family, including his 7-year-old daughter, Gianna, who spoke of how her father used to
help her brush her teeth and play with her. ‘‘I miss him,’’ she said.
Shortly before being sentenced, Chauvin spoke briefly, offering his condolences to the Floyd family. He did not apologise for his role in Floyd’s death.
Chauvin’s sentence made him only the second police officer in Minnesota history to be jailed for an on-duty murder, and one of fewer than a dozen officers nationwide.
A lawyer for Chauvin had argued that the ex-officer should get probation, while prosecutors sought at least 30 years, pointing to the irreparable harm his actions had on Floyd, the victim’s family, witnesses, the community and even the nation.
Chauvin is expected to appeal his conviction and sentence. He is also facing other legal jeopardy related to Floyd’s death, including federal charges.
Chauvin and the other officers at the scene – J Alexander Kueng, Thomas K Lane and Tou Thao – were indicted last month on federal civil rights charges related to Floyd’s death.
Sentences for US police officers convicted of killing people while on duty vary widely, according to data tracked by Philip Stinson, a criminologist at Bowling Green State University.
Police are rarely charged, and convictions are even less common. According to Stinson’s data, 11 officers – including Chauvin – have been convicted of murdering someone while on duty since 2005, with sentences ranging from more than six years in prison to life.