Former law enforcement officer of Minneapolis Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 270 months or 22.5 years in prison on Friday for the murder of African American George Floyd in May last year.

Chauvin was convicted by a US court about two months ago and has been held behind bars since, awaiting his sentencing.

Also read: Who is Derek Chauvin’s wife?

Judge Peter Cahill of Minneapolis wielded his gavel and handed the 45-year-old killer a sentence of 270 months or 22 years. In a previous statement, Cahill said that Chauvin “abused his position of trust and authority” and treated Floyd with “particular cruelty” in front of minors, reported AFP.

Chauvin and three colleagues arrested Floyd, 46, in May last year on suspicion of having passed a fake $20 bill in a store in Minneapolis, a northern city of around 420,000. They handcuffed him and pinned him to the ground in the street. Chauvin, attempting to contain unarmed and handcuffed Floyd, knelt on him for nearly 10 minutes. 

The jurors had taken less than 10 hours to convict Chauvin for the murder after the trial was over. Their decision was greeted with a huge sigh of relief across the country. Many had feared an acquittal would lead to worse unrest, while others worried that once again a white police officer would get away with what they saw as murder.