DEREK CHAUVIN'S 22.5 YEARS SENTENCE: FAIR, GEORGE FLOYD CAN NOW REST.

ICHEOKU says if only victims of police brutality in America are always this reasonably compensated and their death atoned for, with award of huge death settlement and severe punishment of the offending police officer, things would have since changed for the better. The police would have adjusted their manner of law enforcement and victims' survivors would not be always as angry each time they are victimized through the loss of their loved ones in the hands of the police. With $27 million in wrongful death settlement and the killer police officer Derek Chauvin now sentenced to 22,5 years imprisonment, it is without doubt that George Floyd's death has been fully and adequately recompensed. 

So, yes, George Floyd's death was not in vain afterall, as in addition to his death calling world's attention to police brutality in America especially against black people, it also brought some financial succor to his family and now the police officer who strangled him to death has been maximally punished as allowed by law. George Floyd can now finally breathe, aware that he accomplished more in death than ever imagined alive and that his name is now indelibly written in the annals of history. It will be the first time a police officer was charged, convicted and then stiffly punished for an abuse of authority which caused the death of a citizen. The precedent has now been set in stone and it will serve as a guide going forward.

So, as former Minneapolis police officer and convicted murderer Derek Chauvin spends the next twenty two and half years of his life behind bars, in the cold concrete walls of a prison cell, he will have enough time to reflect on his action which put him in the tiny six by twelve prison cell. He will also have time to fully understand the ramification of arbitrarily wielding of force and over an unarmed citizen; and being ruthlessly so mean that he took his life in the process. 

Hopefully, each time he tries to catch some sleep, he will have George Floyd to always keep him company and together, they will relive the nightmare of kneeling on a man's neck for nine long minutes until he choked him to death. Finally, such experience will later become so unbearable for him to put up with that he will consider a noose exit out of his harried nightmare, assuming other prisoner's shank doesn't get at him first. 

In his pre-sentence remarks, the Judge said that Derek Chauvin was cruel, abused his authority, acted with others and in front of children. All aggravating factors which influenced the harsh sentence which was handed to him. The first time in the history of America that a police officer was punished so severely for a crime committed under the color of authority. It is a good sign that things have changed forever in America and the old days of giving them a slap on the wrist, when and if charged, is now over. 

The punishment is stiff as no matter how anyone weighs it, 270 months behind bars is not a walk in the park nor a vacation in the Bahamas. Even if he serves only two third of the sentence for good behavior or is someday pardoned, the fact  remains that the precedent has now been set and it will serve as a deterrent and help modulate overall bad policing. 

ICHEOKU had in a previous article following his conviction in April said that Judge Peter Cahill must also come through with justice for George Floyd by meeting the public's expectation of a stiff sentence. In the article, imposing at minimum, the half of the maximum allowed sentence for the highest convicted charge of second degree, 40 years, was suggested. So, 22.5 years is definitely more than 20 years and for this, ICHEOKU is completely satisfied that Derek Chauvin was sufficiently punished for the callous murder of George Floyd. 

ICHEOKU is also glad that the motion for a retrial was denied as there was no abuse of process and the convict was not denied his constitutional right to fair trial. In one other article, ICHEOKU had observed that it does not matter how many times the case is "retried" or in whichever venue it was moved to, the conviction will never be upturned and that such will be merely wasting the resources of the city or police union which will foot the bill. 

Anyway, it is good that the George Floyd's matter has now come to an end, admitted some Federal cases against Derek Chauvin are still evolving through the system. But the nation will now move on to other challenges facing the country, with the George Floyd matter now effectively put in the rearview mirror, where it now belongs. A sentence of 22.5 years, an order to register as a predatory offender and prohibited from ever owning or possessing firearms and/or ammunition for the remainder of his natural life are more than anyone could have anticipated. Therefore, it was a resounding victory for George Floyd who now laughs last, admitted in the land beyond. Rest on George and to Derek Chauvin, please do the time as you did the crime; and Judge Cahill's sentence was fair enough.