Derek Chauvin, the ex-police officer convicted for the murder of George Floyd, will hear his sentence on Friday in the Minneapolis courthouse. He was convicted by the jury on three counts.
Since his incarceration, Chauvin has been kept in solitary confinement in Oak Park Heights prison. He is being kept in a maximum-security facility.
Chauvin and three other officers detained Floyd in May of 2020 on suspicion of passing a fake $20 bill in a store in Minneapolis. They were accused of brutality as they handcuffed Floyd and pinned him to the ground in the middle of the street. Chauvin put his knee on Floyd’s neck, resulting in his death. This sparked massive protests across the United States, some of which turned into riots.
Chauvin’s trial was closely followed by millions across the country.
He was present for the full six weeks of his trial but refused to testify. He was seen taking notes throughout the trial. His lawyer said he had followed the police procedures in force at the time and that Floyd’s death was due to health problems exacerbated by drug use.
The prosecution has demanded a 30-year imprisonment for Chauvin.
