The Jury has Spoken on Derek Chauvin: Was This Justice?
The Derek Chauvin court case gripping the nation for the past month is now over.
No trial since O.J. Simpson had riveted the country as much as this one. Even Joe Biden seemed anxious about the verdict.
The jurors didn’t take long to deliberate – less than 9 hours over two days.
On Tuesday, 4/20, a jury found Chauvin guilty on all three counts.
- Second degree murder – Guilty
- Third degree murder – Guilty
- Second degree manslaughter – Guilty
The original video of Chauvin with his knee on Floyd’s neck was shot by a bystander and went viral almost one year ago. That led to multiple security videos, police bodycam videos, and additional bystander footage from various angles all playing a role in the juries decision.
Passionate protests broke out across the country, along with destructive riots, following Floyd’s death. In Minneapolis alone, 1,000 buildings were burned out or damaged. Yesterday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz declared a state of emergency as many braced for new riots to reignite.
Other Mayors around the country also prepared for the possibility of riots.
One hour after the verdict was read, the Minneapolis community appears calm. A sense of relief seems to pervade the city as Derek Chauvin is now in jail awaiting sentencing.
How Long Will Chauvin Be in Jail?
Chauvin was found guilty of two counts of murder – second-degree unintentional murder and third-degree murder.
The presumptive sentence for each murder charge was 12.5 years for a defendant like Chauvin, who has no prior criminal history, according to Minnesota’s state guidelines.
But the state has asked for a higher sentencing for the former police officer due to several aggravating factors, including that the murder took place in front of children and that Mr Floyd was treated with “particular cruelty” by Chauvin. The state also said an extended sentence was necessary because the man “abused his position of authority.”
Second-degree murder could be as high as 40 years in prison, while third-degree murder could result in up to 25 years in prison.
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Was justice served in the Derek Chauvin case? Or, another question: is this case over?
The reactions on Twitter have been mixed.
Do you think justice was served in this case? Share your thoughts in the comments.
