George Floyd, at left, and Derek Chauvin.Photo: Splash
AsGeorge Floyd’s family members spoke in court Friday ahead of aformer police officer’s sentencing for Floyd’s murder, they shared their heartbreak over what Floyd’s death has meant for his 7-year-old daughter, Gianna.
Now, “that can’t happen,” Terrence said.
A father represents a daughter’s “first love,” said George’s brotherPhilonise Floyd. “He will never be able to walk Gianna down the aisle and have a wedding, attend those magical moments of her life, like a daddy-daughter dance, Sweet 16 party, sending her out for prom. She will never be able to have any personal memories of her father.”
Gianna Floyd on video during the court sentencing of Derek Chauvin for killing her father, George Floyd.AP/Shutterstock
Chauvin was subsequently sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for second-degree murder. Judge Peter A. Cahill said the length of the sentence, which exceeded the state’s sentencing guidelines that recommended 12.5 years, owed to Chauvin’s “abuse of a position of trust and authority, and also the particular cruelty shown to George Floyd.” In a written sentencing memo, Cahill said Chauvin “treated Mr. Floyd without respect and denied him the dignity owed to all human beings.”
Afterward, George’s cousinBrandon Williamstold the media: “We got justice, but not enough justice.”
“I won’t celebrate this,” he said. “I won’t celebrate it at all. But I will celebrate a guilty conviction of a police officer that killed a Black man. This 22 and a half years just doesn’t work for me.”
Derek Chauvin in court June 25, 2021, at his sentencing.ALEX LEDERMAN/AFP via Getty
But outside the courthouse in Minneapolis, George’s cousin Shareeduh McGee-Tate said at the news conference, “Truth be told, I don’t think any sentence would be enough. We definitely wanted to see the maximum penalty. We didn’t get what we wanted.”
Murder ‘has forever traumatized us,’ says brother
“We simply cannot express the pain and anguish our family and friends have endured since George’s murder,” he said. “It has been truly unimaginable, but not as nearly unimaginable as the defendant’s decision to take the life of a human being with no regard for the effect it may have on others.”
For Gianna, he added, “there’ll be no more birthday parties” with her father, “no graduations, holiday gatherings or other family celebrations.” He further bemoaned the loss to her of George’s “laughter, his guidance, his advice.”
In a brief video played in court, Gianna herself said about her father, “I want to play with him, have fun, go on a plane ride.”
“My daddy used to always help me brush my teeth,” she said.
An off-camera questioner asked the girl what she would say to her dad if she had the opportunity.
“It would be I love you,” she said.
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source: people.com
