This archive report was first published on 26 June 2021.
On June 25, 2021, a Minnesota judge handed down a 22 and a half year prison sentence to Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020.
Ms. Pawlenty, a family friend, described Chauvin as a 'loving and caring man' to his family, but a different person to the public.
The case sparked widespread protests and calls for police reform, including the defunding of police budgets and the removal of statues tied to racism.
Chauvin's conviction was a rare instance of a police officer being held accountable for an on-duty killing, with only 11 officers being convicted of murder since 2005, according to research by Philip M. Stinson.
Chauvin will serve his sentence in solitary confinement for his own safety, and will receive credit for 199 days already served.
