Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Attorney General, wants Derek Chauvin to get a stiffer sentence than the state’s guidelines recommend.
According to TMZ, Ellison filed documents earlier this week asking Judge Cahill to give Chauvin a harsher punishment due to his “particular cruelty” towards George Floyd. The state’s guidelines recommend giving Chauvin 12.5 years, but it’s at the judge’s discretion. And if the judge agrees, he can give him a max of 40 years.
But for the judge to do so, he would have to find evidence of aggravating factors in the case, which Ellison says is definitely there. Ellison didn’t mention what the state wants Chauvin to get, but it’s assumed that they definitely want him behind bars for way longer than a decade since the evidence that he killed Floyd in a cruel manner is undeniable.
The AG also pointed out that Chauvin stayed on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes and disregarded the fact that Floyd said he couldn’t breathe…27 times!!!!!!
However, Chauvin’s defense attorney Eric Nelson argues that his client had the authority to do what he did. A stark difference from Chauvin’s own supervisors’ testimony that his actions were against the department’s protocol.
Chauvin’s fate will be determined on June 25, along with the other three ex-MPD officers.
