He was convicted in the May 2020 death of Floyd.
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis Police officer convicted in the death of George Floyd, was handed his sentence Friday.
Chauvin was handed a 270-month sentence, minus time served, by Judge Peter Cahill.
In April, Chauvin, 45, was found guilty on three counts: Second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyd's neck for more than 9 minutes. He is widely expected to appeal.
Chauvin was sentenced on the most serious charge, second-degree unintentional murder, which under Minnesota law has a maximum sentence of 40 years.
Defense attorney Eric Nelson lobbied for the judge to follow sentencing guidelines rather than considering the maximum sentence.
“We are here after a jury verdict finding him guilty of these offenses and the court's consideration should not only be focused on the aggravating factors but the mitigating factors as well.”
He said, “This case is at the epicenter of a political and cultural divide.”
Carolyn Pawlenty asked the judge not to hand down the maximum sentence for her son.
“Derek has played over and over in his head the events of that day. I have seen the toll it has taken on him. I believe that a lengthy sentence will not serve Derek well. When you sentence my son, you will also be sentencing me,” she said.
Philonise Floyd asked Judge Cahill to give Chauvin the maximum sentence without the possibility for parole.
“My family and I have been given a life sentence. We will never be able to get George back,” he said.
Floyd’s daughter Gianna shared a victim impact statement in a pre-recorded video message at the hearing.
She’s asked in the video, “Do you wish he was still here with us?” She replied, “He is.”
When asked what she would say to her father if she could speak to him right now, Gianna said, "I miss you and I love him."
