Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for violating George Floyd's civil rights.
The 46-year-old former Minneapolis police officer is already serving a 22-and-a-half-year sentence on state charges of murder and manslaughter.
As reported by the Guardian, the federal sentence was announced on Thursday (July 7) and will run concurrently with the original sentencing. It also states that Chauvin will be transferred to federal prison.
Chauvin's additional sentencing given by the US district judge Paul Magnuson comes after he agreed to a plea deal where he admitted for the first time in December that he violated Floyd’s civil rights by kneeling on his neck and back.
Per Sky News, Chauvin was told by Magnuson that what he did was "simply wrong" and "offensive," with the judge adding: "To put your knee on a person's neck until they expired is simply wrong."
The ex-cop pinned Floyd to the sidewalk outside a Minneapolis corner shop for more than nine minutes on May 25, 2020. Floyd was pronounced dead shortly after.
His plea carried a 20 to 25-year sentence, and prosecutors argued that his actions were cold-blooded and that he should receive the full amount of time.
The defense asked for 20 years, stating that Chauvin has accepted accountability and responsibility for his actions. His attorney, Eric Nelson, wrote that his client’s "remorse will be made apparent to this Court".
However, during the courtroom, Chauvin didn't apologize to Floyd’s family members. Instead, he wished Floyd’s children "all the best in their life" and that they would have "excellent guidance in becoming good adults".
Meanwhile, Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, also asked the court to give the former officer the maximum sentence.
"My brother was murdered in broad daylight with a knee to his neck for nine minutes," said Philonise. "The family and I have been given a life sentence, we will never get George back.
Despite admitting that he violated Floyd’s civil rights, Chauvin is still appealing his murder conviction, on the grounds that jurors were intimidated by widespread protests and affected by publicity before his trial.
Floyd repeatedly said "I can’t breathe" as Chauvin knelt on his neck. His death sparked worldwide protests against racism and police brutality and reinvigorated the Black Lives Matter movement.
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