Following his sentence, Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd last year, has finally offered his condolences to the Floyd family.
Chauvin offered condolences to the Floyd’s family, minutes before Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill handed down his sentence of more than 22 years in prison, then said he would reveal information later that would give ‘peace of mind’ to the family.
“Due to some additional legal matters at hand, I’m not able to give a full formal statement at this time,” he said.
“Very briefly, though, I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family.”
“I hope things will give you some peace of mind,” he said.
It was not immediately clear what information he was referring to in the brief statement.
On Friday afternoon, June 25, Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, said the image that has been painted of her son is not the image she has of her child that she raised.
She was the sole loved one to speak on behalf of her son and with a trembling voice, Pawlenty said Chauvin is not a coldblooded killer and racist police officer.
She described her son as a “quiet, thoughtful, honorable, selfless man with a big heart” who always put others first.
“The public will never know the loving and caring man that he is,” she said.
Speaking directly to Chauvin, Pawlenty said the happiest moment of her life was bringing him into the world.
Speaking to the judge, Pawlenty said, “When you sentence my son, you will also be sentencing me.”