A judge has denied the murderer of George Floyd the right to a new trial and sentenced him to 22 and a half years in prison. He may be released in 15 years if he acts well while within the prison system.
The conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin came after a trial in which he was found guilty in April of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Chauvin's defence team had argued that he had been denied his constitutional right to a fair trial as a result of unfair publicity surrounding the case and because members of Congress had tweeted that they hoped he was found guilty.
Derek Chauvin refused to apologise for the killing and instead gave his condolences to the Floyd family and said that 'new information' would come to light that would exonerate him of the crime.
Mr Floyd's sister Bridgett Floyd said that the sentence imposed by the judge:
"Shows that matters of police brutality are finally being taken seriously."
Mr. Floyd's brother had however demanded the maximum 40-year sentence be imposed, saying in court:
"Why? What were you thinking? What was going through your head when you had your knee on my brother's neck?"
Judge Peter Cahill, on passing sentence, said:
"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."
Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd for almost 9 minutes after he was stopped for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. Floyd died at the scene and was non-responsive for a significant amount of the time that Chauvin was on top of him. Defence lawyers argued that pre-existing medical conditions, drug use and Covid-19 could have contributed to Floyd's death, but these were rejected by the jury.
The killing, which was filmed by passers-by, resulted in a summer of protests in which millions took part. There was also widespread violence and looting in what is believed to be the worst civil strife in the United States since the 1960s.
Three other officers now await trial.
[h/t: BBC]
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