Guilty
Updates: Derek Chauvin Trial: Chauvin Found Guilty of Murdering George Floyd (The New York Times)
The jury deliberated for around 10 hours before pronouncing Chauvin guilty on all three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, on April 20, 2021. Chauvin, who had been free on bail during the trial, was ordered into custody and taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs. Civil rights leaders and citizens around the country hailed the verdict (Eligon, et. al). How long Chauvin will be imprisoned for is not yet known. In May 2021, Judge Cahill found state prosecutors had proved beyond a reasonable doubt four of five aggravating factors in Floyd's murder, and the prosecutors argued that this should result in a stricter prison sentence for Chauvin. Even though the jury found him guilty on all three charges, Minnesota law says Chauvin will only face sentencing on the most serious charge, which is second-degree murder. Minnesota guidelines suggest 11-12 years in prison for a second-degree murder charge for someone with no criminal history, but prosecutors are asking Judge Cahill for "upward sentencing departure", which could land Chauvin in jail for up to 40 years (Bailey).
Learn more about the verdict:
Learn more about the charges: |
It was a murder in full light of day, and it ripped the blinders off for the whole world to see. For so many, it feels like it took all of that for the judicial system to deliver just basic accountability." – President Biden Credit: The New York Times, Court TV
|
What's Next?
The fact that most people were unsure or pessimistic regarding the outcome of the trial signals how little we expect people in power to be held accountable for their crimes. Even though we certainly deserve to rejoice, we cannot help but feel let down by the fact that the outcome of this trial was truly unknowable, even though George Floyd was clearly murdered.
|
|
|
How Long is His Sentence?
In late June, 2021, Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. He must serve 15 years, and then he will be eligible for supervised release for the remaining time. Judge Peter Cahill explained that two factors resulted in Chauvin receiving a harsher sentence than normal: that he "abused his position of trust or authority" and treated Floyd with "particular cruelty." Cahill also wrote that Chauvin's restraint of Floyd was much longer than a normal scenario in similar cases. State prosecutors had asked for a tougher sentence, referencing five aggravating factors. Cahill ruled that four of them had been proved beyond reasonable doubt – that Chauvin abused a position of authority, treated Floyd with particular cruelty, children were at the scene, and Chauvin committed the crime as a group (Levenson, Eric, and Ray Sanchez).
Learn more: |
While police officers in America kill around 1,000 people each year, Chauvin is one of only 11 officers who have been convicted of murder for on-duty killings since 2005, according to research conducted by Philip M. Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University" (Arango). |