Before sentence is pronounced: Up to 40 years imprisonment for chauvin

Almost a year after the violent death of George Floyd, the court plans to announce the sentence for ex-police officer Chauvin today. Up to 40 years imprisonment are possible – a decision with a signal effect.

The recordings of George Floyd’s minute-long agony during a brutal police operation caused consternation all over the world – and brought the anti-racist “Black Lives Matter” movement more into the public eye. Ex-cop Derek Chauvin has already been found guilty of all charges by a Minneapolis court. Today the sentence is to be announced.

The scope of his sentence is based on the most serious act for which ex-police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted – ie “second degree murder”, which in Germany corresponds to manslaughter in a particularly serious case. In the US state of Minnesota it has a maximum prison sentence of 40 years. But in the present case that is considered unlikely.

Underage Frazier filmed the act

Chauvin is credited with never having been convicted. But there are also factors that could extend a prison sentence in his case: According to the court, the ex-police officer had taken advantage of his position as a representative of the city.

He’d also killed Floyd in front of a minor. Darnella Frazier, who filmed the crime and was honored with the Pulitzer Prize as an eyewitness, was less than 18 years old a year ago.

Prosecutor demands 30 years imprisonment

The public prosecutor’s office demands 30 years imprisonment. Chauvin’s defense attorney argues the officer never intended to kill Floyd and is calling for a suspended sentence.

The promulgation of the sentence has national significance in the USA – because in similar cases police officers have only rarely been called to account. They were convicted of murder even less often.