Last week, Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and half years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.
Chauvin was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for up to nine minutes and 29 seconds.
The maximum sentence for second-degree murder is 40 years, but state sentencing guidelines recommend 12.5 years in prison for a conviction on unintentional second-degree murder for someone with no criminal history.
Still, nobody was happy with the sentence handed to Chauvin. How could they? Chauvin could be released on parole after serving two-thirds of his sentence, or about 15 years with good behavior.
George Floyd’s two brothers delivered victim impact statements during the sentencing hearing before the sentence was announced.
Philonise Floyd asked Judge Peter Cahill to give Chauvin the maximum sentence — 40 years — without the possibility for parole.
“My family and I have been given a life sentence. We will never be able to get George back,” he said. “Daddies are a daughter’s first love. He’ll never be able to walk Gianna down the aisle at her wedding, attend those magical moments of her life.”
Additionally, Terrence Floyd wanted to know “Why?”
“I wanted to know from the man himself, why?” he said. “What were you thinking? What was going through your head when you had your knee on my brother’s neck? When you knew that he posed no threat anymore? He was handcuffed, why you didn’t at least get up?”
Chauvin offered a short statement before the sentence was handed down.
“I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family,” he said. “There’s going to be some other information in the future that will be of interest and I hope things would give you some peace of mind. Thank you.”
