Judge In George Floyd Case Sentences Police Officer To 22.5 Years In Prison

The judge in the George Floyd case sentenced the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering Floyd by pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes to 22.5 in prison. The prosecution had requested that Chauvin be sentenced to 30 years.

In the final minutes of Chauvin’s sentencing hearing, he turned to the family of George Floyd and said, “I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family. There’s going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest, and I hope things will give you some peace of mind. Thank you.”

During the hearing, prosecutors hammered home their case for a maximum sentence, citing abuse of power and particular cruelty.

Members of Floyd’s family urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence. Floyd’s daughter, Gianna, appeared via video to talk about her dad.

She acknowledged that she missed Floyd and said if she could see him she would “play with him, have fun, go on a plane ride.” The seven-year-old spoke of the “mean people” who harmed him.

“I have had to sit through each day of Officer Derek Chauvin’s trial and watch the video of George dying for almost an hour, over and over again,” said Floyd’s brother, Philonise. “For an entire year I had to relive George being tortured to death every hour of the day, only taking naps and not knowing what a good night’s sleep is anymore.”

Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, also addressed the judge and pleaded for leniency for her son. 

“On May 25, 2020, not only did Derek’s life change, but so did mine and my family’s,” Pawlenty stated. “It has been difficult for me to hear and read what the media, public and prosecution team believe Derek to be an aggressive, heartless and uncaring person. I can tell you it’s far from the truth.”

The 45-year-old Chauvin will serve 15 years of the sentence.