George Floyd's family has reacted to Derek Chauvin's recent sentencing.

According to People, Floyd's cousin Brandon Williams told media in a post-sentencing press conference that the victim's family members "got justice, but not enough justice."

Williams continued: "22 years is not enough. Gianna can't hug George again. We can't get George back. So in retrospect, I think [Chauvin] should have received a life sentence as well.

"I won't celebrate this. I won't celebrate it at all. But I will celebrate a guilty conviction of a police officer that killed a Black man. This 22 and a half years just doesn't work for me."

Meanwhile, Floyd's brother Rodney stated:

"It's a slap on the wrist. We're serving a life sentence by not having [George] in our life.

"For Gianna, that will mean no time ahead with her dad, no shared conversations between father and daughter; those wonderful phone calls lighting up her face."

The 45-year-old former Minneapolis police officer was sentenced on Friday, June 25 by Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill to 22 and a half years in prison for murdering Floyd back in May of 2020.

Sky News reports that the maximum sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is 40 years in prison under Minnesota law.

However, Chauvin's lack of previous convictions meant that his term ended up being comparatively lighter than most.

Chauvin was found guilty back in April by a jury of three counts of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter for his part in the death of George Floyd.

On May 25, 2020, Chauvin and three other police officers were summoned to a grocery store in Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis and arrested Floyd after the proprietor accused the ex-security guard of using a counterfeit banknote to pay for his purchases.

Floyd was then handcuffed lying face down in the street, while Chauvin pressed his knee on the back of his neck for a total of nine minutes - fatally asphyxiating him.

Cell phone footage recorded by teenage bystander Darnella Frazier showed that Floyd repeatedly asked for help and pled for leniency from ground level, even stating audibly "I can't breathe" more than 20 times.

When this incriminating video emerged online, Floyd's death sparked a wave of protests across America and the rest of the world over the issues of police brutality and racial profiling.

Featured Image Credit: UPI / Alamy

Yesterday, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and a half year's in prison for the murder of George Floyd.

His sentencing came after being convicted of second-degree unintentional murder back in April. The former cop was also found guilty of second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder.

At his sentencing hearing yesterday, Chauvin wore a grey suit and publicly addressed the Floyd family for the first time.

Per CNN, Chauvin said prior to his sentence being imposed: "Due to some additional legal matters at hand, I’m not able to really give a full formal statement at this time. Briefly, though, I do want to give my condolences to the Floyd family." He then appeared to turn to look at George Floyd's family.

Chauvin then added: "There's gonna be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind. Thank you."

While Chauvin's comments were brief, it is believed to be the most he has said publicly since he was recorded by bystanders kneeling on George Floyd during the fatal arrest back in May 2020.

CNN also reports that Chauvin's 22 and a half year sentence exceeds the Minnesota sentencing guideline range of 10 years and eight months to 15 years for the crime - however, it is still shorter than the 30 years prosecutors were seeking.

Minnesota law will require Chauvin to serve two-third of his sentence (15 years), after which, he will be eligible for supervised release for the remaining seven and a half years.

The Metro reports that prior to issuing Chauvin's sentence, Judge Peter Cahill stated that he had read an additional statement from Chauvin that has not been made public.

Cahill also stated that the 22 and a half year sentence was not influenced by either emotion or public opinion, but he did say that he "[acknowledged] the deep and tremendous pain that all of the families are feeling, especially the Floyd family."

Per CNN, Cahill wrote in a 22-page memorandum that Chauvin "abused his position of trust or authority" and treated Floyd with "particular cruelty". These two aggravating factors are what lead to his harsher sentence.

The judge added that Chauvin treated Floyd "without respect and denied him the dignity owed to all human beings."

Minnesota Department of Corrections spokesperson Sarah Fitzgerald told CNN that Chauvin will now be held in a restricted housing unit separated from the general population at the Minnesota Oak Park Heights correctional facility.

Fitzgerald noted that his "ultimate placement is undetermined," but Chauvin's safety is a "predominate concern".

Featured image credit: Sipa US / Alamy

Derek Chauvin will be sentenced on June 16 for his part in the murder of George Floyd.

Per ABC News, the time of the sentencing hearing is set for 1:30PM (central).

The sentencing date comes after the former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty on Tuesday of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.

Chauvin now faces a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison for his part in the death of Floyd, after the former cop fatally restrained Floyd by kneeling on his neck for over nine minutes during the May 2020 arrest.

CBS News reports that despite second-degree murder carrying a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, third-degree murder carrying 25 years, and second-degree manslaughter carrying 10 years, Minnesota sentencing guidelines recommend convicts serve their sentences on multiple convictions concurrently.

Additionally, these guidelines also suggest less time for offenders with no criminal history - a category Chauvin fits into. Because of this, it is unlikely he will be sentenced to the full 40 years.

Cameras in the court on Tuesday managed to pick up the handwritten note Chauvin had scrawled onto his hand; the phone number for his attorney, Eric Nelson.

In a statement to TMZ, Nelson explained that Chauvin did this in anticipation of having his bail revoked following the guilty verdict on all charges.

George Floyd's family has also spoken out following Chauvin's guilty verdict.

Per People magazine, George's bother, Philonise Floyd, stated that the family was now "able to breathe again".

George's other brother, Terrance, stated:

"My family is a family that will not back down from prayer. And I believe because of prayer, we got the verdict we wanted.

"We got on our knees. Some of us stood up, but we asked the right one. We said – God, we need justice, we need it now. And he answered. I'm just grateful."

Additionally, in an interview with Good Morning Britain, Floyd's 52-year-old sister, LaTonya, said that she would be "praying" for Chauvin.

"I pray for him, I pray for him, I do and I’m going to continue to pray for him," she said. "In his heart, he wasn't guilty, he wasn't really expecting that. He has nothing to apologize for because he didn't think he was wrong."

Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that Chauvin is now being kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Oak Park Heights, being allowed out for one hour's exercise.

Featured image credit: REUTERS / Alamy

Footage has surfaced of the moment George's Floyd's family heard that Derek Chauvin had been found guilty following the fatal arrest back in May 2020.

The video in question, which you can view below, shows the family of the late Floyd watching the trial virtually while at home, and celebrating as the jury in Chauvin's trial returned a guilty verdict.

Jurors found the former Minneapolis police officer guilty on all three charges, which consisted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.

Chauvin now faces a maximum sentence of up to 75 years in prison for his part in the death of Floyd, after the former cop fatally restrained Floyd by kneeling on his neck for over nine minutes.

When footage of the incident emerged online, Floyd's death sparked a wave of protests across America and the entire world over the issues of police brutality and racial profiling.

Floyd's surviving relatives have since commented on the verdict in various statements made to the press in the aftermath of the trial's conclusion.

People magazine reports that George Floyd's bother Philonise Floyd stated that the family was now "able to breathe again".

Philonise also referenced 20-year-old Daunte Wright, who was shot and killed by ex Brooklyn Center policewoman Kimberly Potter during a traffic stop earlier this month.

He then went on to state that he plans to testify before Congress on behalf of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a wide-ranging bill that aims to achieve greater transparency and accountability from American police officers.

Per People, George's other brother Terrance stated:

"My family is a family that will not back down from prayer. And I believe because of prayer, we got the verdict we wanted.

"We got on our knees. Some of us stood up, but we asked the right one. We said: 'God, we need justice, we need it now,' and He answered. I'm just grateful."

Meanwhile, Floyd's eldest brother Rodney stated: "This is a victory for all of us. There is no color barrier on all of this. This is for everyone held down, pinned down [...] For George, this fight is not over."

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

Derek Chauvin is requesting a new trial citing "misconduct" by the jury and prosecutors.

The 45-year-old former Minneapolis police officer, who knelt on George Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, faces up to 40 years in prison after being found guilty on all charges last month.

Chauvin's lawyer has filed court documents obtained by NPR claiming that the publicity surrounding the three-week trial resulted in the defendant not receiving a fair trial.

As per the court documents filed in Hennepin County District Court on Tuesday, the convicted ex-cop's attorney Eric Nelson wrote:

"The publicity here was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings."

The filing alleges that there was "race-based pressure" on the jurors and that errors had been made by the judge.

According to Nelson, Judge Peter Cahill denied his client of a fair trial when he dismissed the request to move the trial to another county.

The court papers state: "The Court abused its discretion when it denied Defendant's motion for a change of venue… in violation of Mr. Chauvin's constitutional rights to a due process and a fair trial."

Per NPR, Chauvin's lawyer states that Judge Cahill should have isolated the jury for the trial or told them to avoid consuming any media coverage. Nelson also took issue with his refusal to allow the individual who was with Floyd at the time of his arrest to testify.

The filing comes as one juror's impartiality has been called into question after images began circulating of him at a racial justice protest.

Brandon Mitchell, 31, was one of the two jurors who have gone public since Chauvin's conviction on April 20.

Per the BBC, he was pictured wearing a shirt with a photo of the late Martin Luther King Jr on it, as well as the words "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" and the letters "BLM".

But as part of a pre-trial questionnaire, potential jurors were asked if they had taken part in any anti-police brutality protests following Floyd's death on May 25, 2020 – Mitchell answered "no" to that question.

He later told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he went to the rally to commemorate the civil rights movement and did not consider it to be an anti-police brutality gathering.

He said: "The opportunity to be around thousands and thousands of black people, I just thought it was a good opportunity to be a part of something."

Featured image credit: UPI / Alamy