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Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison on Friday for the murder of George Floyd, whose death was a momentous moment in a nationwide ethnic conflict with police.
The 270-month sentence handed down by Judge Peter Cahill was 10 years longer than the government had suggested, although security forces did so.
“This is not about feeling emotionally drained,” Cahill said at a hearing at Hennepin’s state headquarters in Minneapolis. “But at the same time I would like to acknowledge the heartache of all families, especially Floyd.”
The sentence, he told Chauvin, led to the abuse of his position and the “special cruelty” to George Floyd.
Chauvin, 45, was found guilty in April after his death a six-week trial. A former Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes in custody when Floyd screamed several times that he could not breathe.
Chauvin said before the trial he could not say anything because of the ongoing cases – he should have appealed – but he comforted Floyd’s family.
At the hearing, Terrence Floyd wept as he spoke in court about how his brother’s murder affected him.
“I wanted to know from the man himself – why? How does it go through your head when you kneel on my brother’s neck?” He said. “Why did you stay there?”
“On behalf of me and my family, we want greater punishment,” he added. “We don’t want to be slapped again.”
Speaking via video, George Floyd’s 7-year-old daughter Gianna said that if she could talk to her father she would now tell him, “I miss you and I love you”.
Floyd’s death sparked racist protests in the US and around the world, followed by online photography. Darnella Frazier, 17-year-old at the time of the shooting, was honored with a special speech by Pulitzer Council.
The assassination led to many black Americans being killed by the police and sparked widespread discussions of racial segregation.
The police are usually they charge, not to mention the death penalty for murder at work. But the judges convicted Chauvin second-degree homicide, third-degree homicide and homicide. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Opponents have demanded that the judge be sentenced to 30 years in prison, while human rights activists want him to be tried.
Carolyn Pawlenty, Chauvin’s mother, told her son that she still believed in his innocence and asked the court to release her.
“People don’t know how loving and caring he is, but his family knows,” he said. “Derek played in his head over and over again what happened that day.”
Cahill wrote in a statement expressing his views that “part of the work of the Minneapolis Police Department is to give citizens’ words of honor and dignity.” all those who would give it to a friend or a neighbor. ”
Three other officers were present at the time of Floyd’s death. Former officials – Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao – are due to appear in March on charges of aiding and abetting murder.
Journalists increased the number of freedom fighters and observers outside the court ruling. But one father, Leon Lawson, left Michigan with their 4-year-old son to live there. Lawson said his uncle spent more than 50 years in a murder case that took place as a teenager. Two years for Chauvin, he said, was not enough.
“I wanted my son to see our justice in front of him and in front of him,” she said. “To say he was here when the boy was judged, and to be able to compare the differences because of the skin… I think this is the right part, so we will take what we can get.”
Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the Floyd family in state prosecution against the city of Minneapolis, he said Friday that “a single ruling does not solve the problem of violence”.
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