Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd’s civil rights.
Chauvin will serve the federal term at the same time he is serving a 22 1/2-year sentence on state charges of murder and involuntary manslaughter.
A former police officer pinned George Floyd to the sidewalk outside a store in Minneapolis for more than nine minutes as he lay dying on May 25, 2020.
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson told Chauvin that what he did was “simply wrong” and “offensive.”
Mr Magnusson said: “I really don’t know why you did what you did.
“Putting your knee on a man’s neck until he’s dead is just wrong.”
Floyd’s brother Philaniz also asked for the maximum possible sentence.
He said: “My family and I have been given a life sentence.
“We will never get George’s life back.”
Federal prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Shavin to 25 years.
Chauvin initially pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, but changed his plea in December.
Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, asked for 20 years, saying he was remorseful.
However, he did not directly apologize or express remorse to Floyd’s family in court.
Instead, he told the family that he wished Floyd’s children “the best in their lives” and that they had “great guidance to become good adults.”
For the first time, Chauvin admitted that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck even when he said he couldn’t breathe.
The killing sparked protests against racism and police brutality around the world.
Mr Magnuson did not set a sentencing date for the three other officers who were at the scene – Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane — who were convicted in February on federal civil rights charges.
https://news.sky.com/story/derek-chauvin-gets-21-years-in-jail-for-violating-george-floyds-civil-rights-12647858
