Derek Chauvin Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison For George Floyd Murder

Derek Chauvin, the ex-police officer convicted with murdering George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, has been sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison.

Footage of Floyd’s death went viral in 2020 as Chauvin was seen to have knelt on the 48-year-old’s neck for nine minutes, sparking global outrage and protests against police brutality.

Judge Peter Cahill came to his decision, basing it on Chauvin’s “abuse of a position of trust and authority, and also the particular cruelty shown” to Floyd.

“What the sentence is not based on is emotion, or sympathy, but at the same time, I want to acknowledge the deep and tremendous pain that all the families are feeling, especially the Floyd family,” Cahill said.

Chauvin, though stopping short of apologising for the murder of Floyd, did offer his condolences to the deceased’s family.