Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
William Walker

Derek Chauvin to appeal conviction and sentence for murdering George Floyd

Disgraced police officer Derek Chauvin, convicted of killing George Floyd in a murder that sent shockwaves around the US, is set to appeal his conviction.

Chauvin, 45, was found guilty of murdering Mr Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis over a $20 bill on May 25, 2020.

He was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison but now intends to appeal his sentence and conviction.

In court documents filed today, Chauvin claims he was not allowed to change the venue for his trial or to start a fresh hearing.

In a list of several grounds for his appeal he goes on to say he was denied a request for a new trial after the verdict due to 'juror misconduct.'

George Floyd (Collect Unknown)

Floyd's death sparked a wave of protests around the world, and the guilty verdict in the trial was widely seen as a watershed moment in the history of US policing.

A jury found Chauvin guilty on April 20 of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Floyd's brother Terrence Floyd addressed Chauvin directly during his victim impact statement at sentencing.

"What was going through your head as you had your knee on my brother's neck?" he asked.

He told the judge he wanted the maximum sentence, adding: "We don't want to see no more slaps on the wrist. We've been through that already."

Chauvin being led away in handcuffs after the verdict (Court TV/AFP via Getty Images)

Chauvin was handed a longer sentence than legal guidelines recommended due to aggravating factors, but less than the maximum 40 years he could have received.

Prosecutors had asked for a 30-year prison sentence - double the upper limit indicated in sentencing guidelines for a first-time offender.

Chauvin's lawyer had already argued that he was deprived of a fair trial because of prosecutorial and jury misconduct and errors of law at trial.

Through his attorney, Eric Nelson, Chauvin had asked the judge to sentence him to probation, writing that the murder of Floyd was "best described as an error made in good faith".

The murder sparked an international outcry and waves of protest (Getty Images)

Bud Judge Cahill denied his request for a new trial in an order ahead of the sentencing.

Video of Chauvin kneeling on the neck of Mr Floyd, an unarmed black man in handcuffs, sparked outrage around the world.

The call for justice became a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter demonstrations and protesters demanded police be held accountable.

Jubilant scenes had erupted in Minneapolis as Chauvin was found guilty in April.

Scenes of anger and dismay played out outside the courtroom as the city then reacted to the sentence falling short of the 30-year jail term prosecutors had sought.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.