Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, whose dying gasps under Chauvin’s knee led to the biggest outcry against racial injustice in the U.S. in generations.

The punishment handed out Friday fell short of the 30 years that prosecutors had requested.

With good behavior, Chauvin, 45, could be paroled after serving two-thirds of his sentence, or about 15 years.

Chauvin was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Under Minnesota statutes, he'll be sentenced on the most serious charge.

Some of Floyd's family members gave impact statements, including George's 7-year-old daughter, Gianna. 

"I want to play with him," she said in a video shown in court on Friday. Gianna said she misses her father and recalled having dinner with him each night before bed.

If she could tell her father anything it would be, "I miss you and I love you."

Derek Chauvin's mother Carolyn Pawlenty, said her son is a good man and pleaded for a shorter sentence. "When you sentence my son, you will also be sentencing me," Pawlenty said.

She described Chauvin as "thoughtful, honorable and selfless," and said his conviction has taken a toll on him and their family. "He has a big heart and he always has put others before his own," she said.

Chauvin also gave a statement in which he said, "I do want to give my condolences to the Floyd family. There's going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest, and I hope things will give you some peace of mind."

 

 

 

(The Associated Press, CBS News contributed to this report.)

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