Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd with a knee pressed to his neck, should receive no prison time or far …
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd with a knee pressed to his neck, should receive no prison time or far less than the maximum sentence because he is the product of a « broken system, » his defense attorney wrote in a court filing Wednesday. Prosecutors argued in a brief filed Wednesday that Chauvin’s « actions traumatized Mr. Floyd’s family, the bystanders who watched Mr. Floyd die, and the community. And his conduct shocked the Nation’s conscience. » Chauvin,45, was convicted of second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death in May 2020, which spurred mass protests and a national reckoning around systemic racism and police brutality. Chauvin is set to be sentenced June 25. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison because the judge overseeing the case concluded he abused his position of trust and authority, among other aggravating factors. Chauvin has been in prison awaiting sentencing since April 21 and would get credit for time served. Eric Nelson, his attorney, wrote in the filing that Chauvin is in solitary confinement in a high-security prison because he is likely to be targeted by other prisoners. Three other officers involved in the incident face charges of aiding and abetting Floyd’s murder. They are scheduled to be tried in 2022. All four officers have been charged in federal court with violating Floyd’s civil rights during the arrest. Chauvin made his first appearance in that case Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Justice Department is investigating the Minneapolis Police Department for a systemic violations of people’s civil rights. In Wednesday’s filing, Nelson wrote that Chauvin was born to a « loving mother, father, and sister, » served in the military, and received high scores on reviews during 19 years as a police officer. « In the eyes of the public, Mr. Chauvin has been reduced to this incident, and he has been painted as a dangerous man, » Nelson wrote. « However, behind the politics, Mr. Chauvin is still a human being. Before this incident occurred, Mr.
