In May, former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, who killed unarmed George Floyd by squeezing his neck with his knees for about nine minutes, was convicted of second-degree accidental murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree negligence.
The maximum sentence for accidental murder in the second degree is 40 years, the punishment for murder in the third degree is up to 25 years, and the punishment for negligence in the second degree is up to 10 years.
In this trial, a jury consisting of 12 members decided that after deliberating for more than 10 hours over two days, they were all guilty of the charges of murder in the second degree, the murder in the third degree, and in the second degree of negligence that was filed against Officer Chauvin.
According to the verdict that day, the judge will decide the specific sentence for Officer Chauvin, and the punishment will be made in eight weeks. Officer Chauvin is reportedly detained again after his guilty verdict.
In May of last year, Floyd’s death sparked rage around the world, and despite the ongoing coronavirus, hundreds of protests took place across the United States.
Floyd is just one of many blacks murdered by white police officers, and this historical case is a rare example of how the justice system can work in black society.