The George Floyd case: Derek Chauvin sentenced to an additional 21 years in prison

On May 25, 2020, this seasoned Minneapolis police officer had remained kneeling on the African-American's neck for almost ten minutes, indifferent to the interventions of panicked passers-by and the groans of George Floyd.

The police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced Thursday to 21 years in prison by the federal justice of the United States for having asphyxiated the African-American George Floyd with his knee. The 46-year-old former agent had already been sentenced for murder to 22 and a half years in prison by the justice of the State of Minnesota, but he appealed the sentence. The federal penalty for "violation of civil rights" of the black forties, is, for its part, final since it results from a plea agreement. It can be served at the same time as the other sentence, said Judge Paul Magnuson of the Saint-Paul court, giving him credit for the seven months already spent in detention.

During a short intervention, Derek Chauvin wished the children of George Floyd to “succeed in life”, without apologizing or expressing the slightest remorse.

His mother Carolyn Pawlenty assured that he was not a heartless racist, before adding "all lives matter, regardless of their skin color", hijacking the slogan Black Lives Matter (black lives matter).

Called to the bar, the brother of the deceased, Philonise Floyd, demanded "the maximum sentence" against Derek Chauvin, saying he had not slept since the tragedy.

During the trial, the defense had insisted on the lack of experience of agents Kueng and Lang, deployed in the field for only a few days, and on the ascendancy taken by Derek Chauvin in the face of the situation.