Photo: WFMZ
Faizel Patel – 25/06/2021
The Executive Director of the Council of Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the US state of Minnesota Hussein Jaylani says the trial of Derek Chauvin found guilty of murdering African American George Floyd has been very traumatizing and they are hoping for a lengthy sentence for the crime.
Jaylani was speaking to Radio Islam ahead of the sentencing of Chauvin on Friday.
The former policeman could be ordered behind bars for 30 years for the murder of Floyd, a killing that sparked America’s biggest demonstrations for racial justice in decades.
Chauvin and three colleagues arrested 46-year-old Floyd in May last year on suspicion of having passed a fake $20 bill in a store in Minneapolis, a northern city of around 420,000.
They handcuffed him and pinned him to the ground in the middle of the street.
Chauvin then knelt on the back of Floyd’s neck for nearly 10 minutes, indifferent to the dying man’s groans and to the pleas of distraught passers-by.
Minnesota law provides for a minimum sentence of 12.5 years for the white, 45-year-old killer, who has been jailed since being convicted on three counts of murder and manslaughter two months ago.
However, Judge Peter Cahill, who will hand down the sentence in a Minneapolis court, identified aggravating circumstances that could signal a much heavier punishment.
Jaylani says while there has been two other killings by US police officers since the trial began, Chauvin is only one of four officers who has brought to book for Floyds murder.
“We’re just hopeful, hoping that after a guilty verdict that we can also see the appropriate charges in this case and that would be a full maximum charge for this heinous act that Derek Chauvin did.”
Jaylani says the community is optimistic that Chauvin will receive the maximum sentence for his role in killing Floyd.
“The sentencing guideline start from around twelve years and a maximum of up to thirty-years. So, the community is optimistic that the judge will take into consideration all of the factors that took place and will render a sentence that is appropriate.”
Jaylani says the other police officer involved in the killing of Floyd are expected to appear in court next year March, adding that they face several federal charges.
Listen to the interview with Hussein Jaylani
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