[WonderMomma]

Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/trial-o...e-floyd-murder

(Video from this source has been trimmed to show the moment of sentencing and included below)

Derek Chauvin Is Sentenced To 22 1/2 Years For George Floyd's Murder

A Minnesota judge sentenced Derek Chauvin to 22 1/2 years in prison Friday for the murder of George Floyd — a punishment that exceeds the state's minimum guidelines but falls short of prosecutors' request of a 30-year sentence.

As he issued the sentence, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill said Chauvin will be credited for the 199 days he has already served.

The sentence "is one of the longest a former police officer has ever received for an unlawful use of deadly force," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said, calling it a "moment of real accountability."

Cahill detailed his reasoning in a 22-page legal memorandum. In court, he spoke about pain — something he said has marked this case.

"I want to acknowledge the deep and tremendous pain that all the families are feeling, especially the Floyd family," Cahill said. "You have our sympathies, and I acknowledge and hear the pain that you are feeling."

"It has been painful throughout Hennepin County, throughout the state of Minnesota and even the country. But most importantly, we need to recognize the pain of the Floyd family."

Chauvin offered little reaction when the sentence was announced. As soon as Cahill adjourned the hearing, Chauvin stood, nodded to his attorney, Eric Nelson, and followed a sheriff's deputy out of the courtroom.

Floyd's family responds to the Chauvin sentence
After the hearing, attorney Benjamin Crump issued a statement along with the Floyd family saying that the sentence brings healing and accountability.

"For once, a police officer who wrongly took the life of a Black man was held to account," the statement said.

With Chauvin's punishment, it added that "we take a significant step forward — something that was unimaginable a very short time ago."

Floyd's family and their attorneys also called for Chauvin to be convicted on federal civil rights charges that he's facing.

It's about accountability, Minnesota attorney general says
The video footage of Floyd's death is seared into the minds of people who watched it, Ellison said. He called on police, prosecutors and communities to bring about societal change — to push for more accountability, so civilians and the police act with trust and cooperation. He also had a message for lawmakers.

"Congress has still not passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act," Ellison said, urging legislators to approve the strongest version of the bill they can.

"Lives are depending on it," he added. "It's that simple."

In April, a jury found the former Minneapolis police officer, who is white, guilty of murdering Floyd, who was Black, on Memorial Day 2020. The killing triggered massive protests against racial injustice and also prompted reviews of the police use of force — including how much the law should protect officers when someone dies in their custody.

As in earlier proceedings, the sentencing hearing was livestreamed from the courtroom. The sentence announcement followed emotional victim impact statements from Floyd's family as well as a heartfelt message of support from Chauvin's mother.

Chauvin was seen on video pressing his knee onto Floyd's neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds as Floyd lay facedown on the asphalt outside a convenience store with his hands cuffed behind his back. The police had been called to the store after Floyd allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill to pay for cigarettes.

The guilty verdict against Chauvin was hailed as a civil rights victory. Since then, his prison sentence has been awaited as a possible affirmation of that victory.

Under Minnesota law, people sentenced to prison become eligible to be considered for parole after serving two-thirds of their sentence as long as they've had no disciplinary problems while in custody.

At Friday's sentencing hearing, Chauvin wore a suit rather than a prisoner's uniform by a special order of the court.

Chauvin offers condolences in a brief statement
Chauvin, who did not testify during his trial, addressed the court Friday in remarks that he said would be kept brief as he is still facing other legal issues — including federal charges.

"I do want to give my condolences to the Floyd family," Chauvin said as he looked toward Floyd's relatives in the courtroom.

And in a cryptic moment, the former officer added, "There's going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest. And I hope things will give you some, some peace of mind. Thank you."

Chauvin "is the first white officer in Minnesota to face prison time for the killing of a Black man," according to NPR member station Minnesota Public Radio.

The sentencing decision is in "unchartered waters"
Legal experts note that while Chauvin's sentence falls short of prosecutors' request, it's also well above the range of a presumptive sentence for second-degree murder.

"Because sentencing of a police officer for homicide is so rare, the judge was in somewhat uncharted waters," said Christopher Slobogin, a criminal law professor at Vanderbilt University.

He added, "But given the aggravating factors the judge found, the sentence seems neither particularly harsh nor especially lenient."

Floyd's daughter, 7, gives her victim impact statement
Floyd's loved ones delivered four victim impact statements in court. The first was a video conversation with Floyd's 7-year-old daughter, Gianna.

"I ask about him all the time," she said, adding that she wants to know, "How did my dad get hurt?"

Gianna said her father is still with her in spirit. When she sees him again, she said, she wants to play with him.

"I miss you and I love you," she said she would tell her father, adding that every night, he used to help her brush her teeth.

The girl added that other people have helped her father after "those mean people did something to him."

Floyd's brother asks Chauvin: "Why?"
"This situation has really affected me and my family," Floyd's brother Terrence Floyd said.

Addressing Chauvin in the courtroom, Floyd said he has some questions.

"Why? What were you thinking? What was going through your head when you had your knee on my brother's neck?"

He then took a moment to compose himself after growing emotional.

He went on to describe how in one of his last conversations with his brother, they had been planning play dates for their daughters.

Asking for a maximum penalty against Chauvin, Terrence Floyd said there should be "no more slaps on the wrist."

Philonise Floyd, who has become an outspoken advocate for his late brother, then told the court that he has relived his death repeatedly in the past year. He no longer knows what it feels like to get a full night's sleep, he said.

"My family and I have been given a life sentence" to live without George Floyd, Philonise Floyd added.

Chauvin's mother says she supports her son 100%
Chauvin's mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, spoke in court on her son's behalf and for her entire family, she said.

All their lives changed forever the day George Floyd died, Pawlenty said.

Her son is not an "aggressive, heartless and uncaring person," or a racist, she said. "My son is a good man," Pawlenty said, noting his years of dedication to being a police officer.

Saying that she supports her son 100%, she added that the past year has taken a toll on him.

"When you sentence my son, you will also be sentencing me," Pawlenty told the judge. She noted that if her son serves a long prison term, his parents may not be alive when he is released.

Addressing Chauvin, Pawlenty said she is on his side and told him to be strong.

"Remember you are my favorite son," she said.

Lawyers argued over aggravating factors
Minnesota guidelines called for Chauvin to be sentenced to around 12 1/2 years for second-degree unintentional murder, given his lack of prior criminal history. But state prosecutors pushed for a 30-year term, saying Chauvin "acted with particular cruelty," among other aggravating factors in the case.

The prosecution also cited Chauvin's abuse of a position of authority and Floyd's killing in front of children and other witnesses, saying his punishment requires an "upward departure" from the guidelines. Cahill agreed, saying that aggravating factors had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Nelson, Chauvin's attorney, asked for the former officer to be sentenced to probation along with time already served, saying that his client would likely be a target in prison. He also said that with the support of his family and friends, Chauvin, 45, still has the potential to be a positive influence on his community.

Chauvin was found guilty of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. But he was being punished only for the most serious charge: second-degree murder while committing a felony. In Minnesota, a person convicted of multiple crimes that happened at the same time is typically only sentenced for the most severe charge.

The state's maximum prison term for second-degree unintentional murder is 40 years, although the sentencing guidelines for second-degree unintentional murder largely taper off at 24 years.

Chauvin also faces federal charges
Weeks after Chauvin was found guilty of murdering Floyd, the Justice Department announced federal criminal charges against him and three of his fellow former officers over Floyd's death.

A federal grand jury indicted the four on charges of violating Floyd's civil rights, with Chauvin accused of using excessive force and ignoring the medical emergency that ended in Floyd's death.

The other former officers — J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao — are also accused of not getting immediate medical help for Floyd, with Kueng and Thao facing an additional charge of failing to intervene and showing "deliberate indifference" to Floyd's predicament.

The grand jury also indicted Chauvin over an arrest he made in 2017 in which he allegedly used a neck restraint and beat a teenager with a flashlight.

No trial date has been announced for the federal charges.

The three other former officers were already facing a state trial in August on charges of aiding and abetting. But that trial has now been postponed until March.

All four of the Minneapolis officers involved in Floyd's death were fired days after the killing.

Nelson had asked the state court for a new trial for Chauvin, saying intense press coverage tainted the jury pool. He also alleged prosecutorial misconduct, related to issues such as sharing evidence and handling witnesses. But Cahill denied Nelson's motion on the eve of Friday's sentencing.

"The people pushing for this change say the Supreme Court has tightened qualified immunity so much in recent decades that it's become nearly impossible for courts to recognize even blatant examples of police misconduct as illegal," NPR's Martin Kaste reported last year. "But police see things very differently. For them, qualified immunity has become a necessary safe harbor in a fast-paced, often dangerous job."

Qualified immunity's critics range from far-left activists to the libertarian Cato Institute.

A federal judge joined the critics last year, saying that while an officer in a case before him was protected by the doctrine, qualified immunity should be tossed into "the dustbin of history."

[himself]

One can not crush a persons trachea bu putting a boot down on the BACK of said persons neck.

[WonderMomma]

Originally Posted by HSO ↗

Hero Chauvin blowing out your kids’ eyeballs & eardrums backwards while splitting their skulls with the intracranial pressure created by a suction-cup lip-sealed airlock while farting in their mouths from a prison cell while awaiting appeal for acquittal.

I was POSITIVE you were going to reply to this. It's getting predictable.... but I realize now that I think someone has a raging crush! As much as you praise him, fantasize about his acquittal... and say his name like JayZ does Beyonce's... especially in threads that have ZERO to do with him, I'm willing to bet you wish it were your balls being teabagged in his asshole-like pursed lips as he spanks your ass and calls you Bubba. Perhaps you should start your courtship of him by becoming his pen pal... if your love of him is reciprocated, you can go commit a felony and be cellmates... and butt buddies with him.

The ridiculousness of the content you write is what gives me shiggles. But I do grow weary... I hope you'll soon choose some other waste of space, asshole who let his superiority complex falsely convince himself he is invincible, therefore God and set him upon your pretty little pedestal.

[WonderMomma]

Originally Posted by himself ↗

One can not crush a persons trachea bu putting a boot down on the BACK of said persons neck.

Floyd's trachea was not crushed... not sure where you heard that. lol

[v1r]

Its a big injustice to hear the sentence and hearing the judge bow down to the Floyd family.
Junkie Didndunuffin Floyd died as he lived, Proper fiend.

[Xtatic]

Judge Joe Brown says George Floyd should not be treated as a hero or considered as a martyr. Saying “George Floyd was a 6’7” man weighing 250lbs who died while crying for his mama, and that’s embarrassing.”

[Bananamanize]

Finally, some good news on here! Good riddance filthy little piggy!

[dankboosh]

Looks like CockBreath was wrong again. In other news, the sky is blue.

[WonderMomma]

Originally Posted by Xtatic ↗

Judge Joe Brown says George Floyd should not be treated as a hero or considered as a martyr. Saying “George Floyd was a 6’7” man weighing 250lbs who died while crying for his mama, and that’s embarrassing.”

lol lol lol
a TV show judge...
lololol
Who gives a fuck what he says?

It's easy armchair quarterback this to death and say what was what about a situation none of us were there to experience nor witness.

People should learn to stick with primal, primitive instincts instead of what everyone else is doing, saying, thinking... like sheep. Look at this on a strictly human level. A situation involving two human beings and the results of their actions within that situation. Forget about anything before or after said situation. That's it. Leave the labels (hero, martyrs, addict, profession, color) out of it. IN the situation, they were both in the wrong in different ways. Floyd should have complied, Chauvin shouldn't have neglected to get him medical attention after he started fading. As a result, both of them lost their lives in one way or another.

[Johnny Alias]

Originally Posted by WonderMomma ↗

lol lol lol
a TV show judge...
lololol
Who gives a fuck what he says?

It's easy armchair quarterback this to death and say what was what about a situation none of us were there to experience nor witness.

People should learn to stick with primal, primitive instincts instead of what everyone else is doing, saying, thinking... like sheep. Look at this on a strictly human level. A situation involving two human beings and the results of their actions within that situation. That's it. Leave the labels (hero, martyrs, addict, profession, color) out of it.

You’re right it is a situation that only involves an interaction between two random people .. but whether you like it or not masses of people have put labels on this event and its participants, leading to a lot of rioting on the part of black Americans and a lot of machine gun stockpiling by white Americans