Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, was sentenced to 21 years in prison by a United States federal judge on Thursday for suffocating African-American George Floyd with his knee. The 46-year-old former agent was already sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison for murder by the justice of the state of Minnesota, but he appealed the sentence. Federal Penalty “violation of civil rights”. of the Black Forties, in turn, is conclusive because it derives from the plea agreement. It can be served concurrently with the other sentence, said St. Paul Court Judge Paul Magnuson, crediting him with the seven months he has already spent in custody.
manifestations of the monster
“I don’t know why you did it, but putting your knee on someone’s neck until they die is wrong. And for that you should be severely punished”, the judge explained to him. During a short intervention, Derek Chauvin wished the children of George Floyd “Be successful in life”, without apologizing or expressing the slightest remorse. His mother, Carolyn Polenti, assured him that he was not a heartless racist before adding “All lives matter regardless of skin color”, hijacking the “Black Lives Matter” slogan. Philonise Floyd, the brother of the deceased who was called to the bar, asked him “maximum sentence” Against Derek Chauvin, saying he hasn’t slept since the tragedy.
On May 25, 2020, this experienced Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of an African-American man for almost ten minutes, indifferent to the interventions of panicked passers-by and the moans of George Floyd. The scene, which was filmed and posted online, has sparked widespread protests against racism and police brutality in the United States and abroad. During the spring 2021 trial in Minnesota state court, his lawyer argued that George Floyd died of an overdose combined with health problems and assured that Derek Chauvin used justified force.
“Double Pursuits”
He did not convince the jury, and the former policeman was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison. He appealed this verdict. At the same time, federal justice had begun its own trial, indicting him as well as three of his former colleagues “Violation of constitutional rights”. George Floyd, more specifically “The right not to be a victim of unjustified use of force by the police”.. These “double up” Criminal prosecutions are authorized in the United States but are relatively rare, reflecting the importance of the case, which has reignited a heated debate about the United States’ racist past.
He initially pleaded not guilty in the federal case before changing tack in December 2021, admitting some responsibility for the first time. While admitting his guilt, he admitted the fact of abuse of force. “Knowing It’s Wrong”and: “Without legal justification”.. He also pleaded guilty in 2017 to the violence against a 14-year-old black teenager, whom he held on his knees for a quarter of an hour. “I hope he uses the time he has in front of him to think about what he could have done differently.”Young John Pope commented during Thursday’s hearing.
In exchange for his plea deal, Derek Chauvin will serve his sentence in a federal prison rather than the state’s maximum security prison, where he is currently in solitary confinement to protect himself from other inmates. The other three agents who remained inactive during the trial of George Floyd were found guilty in federal justice in February, but their sentence has not yet been decided. The state justice also accused them of complicity in the murder. One of them, Thomas Lane, pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on September 21. The trial of the other two, Tu Tao and Alexander Kueng, is scheduled to begin on October 24.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.