Chauvin was sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in prison
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to over 22 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd last year.
Ahead of the sentence being handed down, numerous people close to the case spoke in court, including Chauvin’s mother, and family members of George Floyd.
Chauvin himself has been notoriously quiet during the trial proceedings, but addressed the court moments before learning his sentence.
Addressing the Floyd family, he offered ‘condolences’, but it is the next sentence which has caused the biggest stir.
Addressing the family directly in court, Chauvin said:
At this time, due to some additional legal matters at hand, I’m not able to give a full formal statement at this time.
Briefly though, I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family. There’s going to be some other information that would be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind.
Minutes from learning his sentence, former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin addressed George Floyd’s family in court.
Says there’s more information still to be released he hopes will give the Floyd family peace. pic.twitter.com/4oKelngNXn
— Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) June 25, 2021
It is currently unclear what Chauvin meant by this message, though it is likely that the legal matter to which he refers are the upcoming cases of Chauvin’s three colleagues who also face charges for his murder.
Former Hennepin County prosecutor Joseph Daly spoke of his confusion to the New York Daily News.
He said:
It’s a real head-scratcher. I think it was tone deaf.
If there was any way to give any kind of solace to the Floyd family, it was to offer condolences and beg forgiveness and then just shut up.
Earlier in the sentencing, Derek Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, spoke of her fears that she will be dead before her son is released from prison.
Ms Pawlenty said her son’s portrayal in court and in the media is ‘far from the truth’.
She said, while ‘speaking on behalf of my entire family’, that Chauvin is a ‘good man’.
She said:
Derek devoted 19 years of his life to the Minneapolis Police Department.
It has been difficult for me to hear… the media, public and prosecution team believe Derek to be an aggressive, heartless and uncaring person.
I can tell you that is far from the truth.
My son’s identity has also been reduced to that… as a racist. I want this court to know that none of these things are true and that my son is a good man.
Chauvin has been sentenced to 22-and-a-half years for the murder of George Floyd, which sparked international outrage and protests after footage of the killing went viral on social media.
Mr Floyd died after Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest.
