The former police officer is convicted of murdering George Floyd.
Former US police officer Derek Chauvin is beginning a 22-and-a-half year sentence for murdering George Floyd in Minneapolis last year.
He was sentenced yesterday evening having been convicted in April.
BREAKING: Jury finds former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. pic.twitter.com/WevhLzUmXX
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 20, 2021
The 45-year-old was found guilty of killing the unarmed black man, after kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes last year.
A video of the incident was shared across social media sparking protests on racial injustice worldwide.
The punishment fell short of the 30 years that prosecutors had pushed for.
Relatives of George Floyd have criticised the sentence saying it's too lenient.
One of his brothers, Rodney Floyd, has called Chauvin's punishment a "slap on the wrist".
While another brother Philonise says his niece will now miss out on key moments in her life.
"She cannot have him walk her down the aisle or have prom with the father-daughter dance," Philonise said.
While family attorney Ben Crump says the sentence is the longest ever given to a police officer in the state of Minnesota.
Crump added that the only justice would be "George Floyd still being here with his family".
