DEREK CHAUVIN directly addressed the family of George Floyd as he was sentenced for the murder of the unarmed African American.
The former Minneapolis police officer was sentenced to twenty-two-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the killing of the 46-year-old in Minneapolis last May.
Prior to sentencing, Chauvin broke his silence in a brief statement in which he offered his condolences to Floyd’s family.
“I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family,” he said.
Chauvin added: “There is going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope that things will give you some peace of mind, thank you.”
There had been speculation prior to the sentencing that Chauvin could be sentenced to the maximum available term, which was 40 years.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, had lobbied for him to receive 30 years, though this would have been the highest sentence permitted under the current state guidelines.
Despite issuing a message to Floyd’s family in court, Chauvin stopped short of offering an apology for the actions he was convicted of.
"We never get justice"
Jacob Blake, Sr., father of a Black man who was paralyzed after he was shot by a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, reacts to Chauvin sentencing. pic.twitter.com/H7ccopQdle— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 25, 2021
Chauvin also indicated to judge Peter Cahill that due “to some additional legal matters at hand, I’m not able to give a full formal statement at this time”.
This is thought to relate to the civil rights charges Chauvin is facing in federal court.
Chauvin unanimously was convicted of the unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter of Floyd at a trial in April.
He was one of four Minneapolis Police officers arrested after video footage emerged on social media showing Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.
During the footage, Floyd could be heard pleading “I can’t breathe.”
The incident sparked several days of protests across MInneapolis and several other cities in the US.
All foyer officers have since been charged with the remaining three awaiting trial on lesser charges.
The three other officers have also been charged. They are currently awaiting trial.
Gianna Floyd, 7, said in a video that she missed her father and wished she could play with him again. Derek Chauvin was sentenced on Friday to 22 and a half years in prison for George Floyd’s murder.https://t.co/0hpfXoWHP9 pic.twitter.com/K5CVI5h6fn
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 26, 2021
During sentencing, Floyd’s seven-year-old daughter GIanna spoke about the loss of her father in a victim impact statement delivered via FaceTime.
"I ask about him all the time,” shesaid . “I want to play with him."
"I want to play with him, have fun, go on a plane ride.”
She described to the court how she would have mints with her dad "every single night before we went to bed."
"My daddy always used to help me brush my teeth," Gianna added.
Recalling the horror of realising her father had died, she told that court "I was asking, 'How did my dad get hurt?'" adding, "Those mean people did something to him.”
Asked what she would like to tell her dad if she had the chance, Gianna said: “It would be, 'I miss you and I love you.'"
