Saturday, May 24News That Matters

Tag: george floyd

Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years in death of George Floyd
International news

Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years in death of George Floyd

Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who killed George Floyd on a Minneapolis street last year, was sentenced Friday to 22 and half years in prison. Chauvin, in a light gray suit and tie and white shirt, spoke briefly before the sentence was imposed, offering his "condolences to the Floyd family." Under Minnesota law, Chauvin will have to serve two-thirds of his sentence, or 15 years -- and he will be eligible for supervised release for the remaining seven and a half years. The sentence exceeds the Minnesota sentencing guideline range of 10 years and eight months to 15 years for the crime. Floyd's death sparked massive protests across the nation over police brutality. Judge Peter Cahill said the sentence was not based on emotion or public opinion. He wanted to "ack...
Teen who recorded George Floyd Murder wins prize citation.
International news

Teen who recorded George Floyd Murder wins prize citation.

Darnella Frazier -- the teenager who recorded George Floyd's death under Derek Chauvin's knee -- has just earned a special citation in this year's Pulitzer Prize. Pulitzer Prize co-chair Mindy Marqués said during Friday's announcement that the Floyd story, in particular, highlighted not only the essential role of journalists, but the increasing importance of ordinary citizens. She added, "We want to note that the board has awarded a special citation to Darnella Frazier, the teenage witness who filmed and posted the transformative video that jolted viewers and spurred protests against police brutality around the world." The honor was presented after the board awarded the Minneapolis Star-Tribune with the Pulitzer -- arguably journalism's most prestigio...
Chauvin requests probation for Floyd killing
International news

Chauvin requests probation for Floyd killing

A lawyer for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has asked a judge for probation or a below-guidelines prison term when sentencing his client, who was convicted in April of murder and manslaughter in the killing of a Black man, George Floyd. In a motion filed with Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill on Wednesday, lawyer Eric Nelson said Chauvin’s actions in pinning Floyd to the pavement during an arrest in May last year was “best described as an error made in good faith” based on his training. “Mr. Chauvin asks the Court to look beyond its findings, to his background, his lack of criminal history, his amenability to probation, to the unusual facts of this case, and to his being a product of a ‘broken’ system,” Nelson wrote. The lawyer a...
Derek Chauvin found guilty on 3 charges in murder of George Floyd.
Life Style

Derek Chauvin found guilty on 3 charges in murder of George Floyd.

The jury has spoken, and found Derek Chauvin guilty in the death of George Floyd. The former Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd, who was handcuffed and face down on the pavement, for more than 9 minutes at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue last May.  Chauvin was taken into custody and will be sentenced in eight weeks. The incident was filmed by a teenager and set off a national racial reckoning after decades in which police killed Black men and were rarely punished. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder; guilty of third-degree murder; and guilty of second-degree manslaughter. Prosecutors laid out a case over the course of 15 days that Floyd died due to a lack of oxygen, or asphyxiation, after C...
Minneapolis on edge as jury deliberates Chauvin verdict.
International news

Minneapolis on edge as jury deliberates Chauvin verdict.

The prosecution told jurors that Mr Chauvin had murdered Mr Floyd, but the defence said their client had correctly followed police training. The court is being protected by barbed wire, high barriers and armed soldiers from the National Guard. Cities across the country are bracing for protests regardless of the verdict. On Monday, the prosecution and defence made their closing statements in a trial that lasted three weeks. The prosecution then had another opportunity to rebut defence arguments before the jury was sent to deliberate. The jury will be sequestered to consider testimony from 45 witnesses, including doctors, use-of-force experts, police officers, bystanders and people who were close to Mr Floyd. The defendant is charged with second-degree unintentional murde...