USA TODAY
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin could face up to 30 years in prison after a Minnesota judge ruled there were several aggravating factors in the murder of George Floyd.
Chauvin, 45, abused his authority as a police officer when he restrained Floyd last May by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes and not rendering medical aid even when it became clear Floyd was in medical distress, Judge Peter Cahill said in a ruling made public Wednesday.
Cahill found Chauvin treated Floyd with "particular cruelty" because of the "prolonged nature of the asphyxiation" and because Floyd made it clear he was having trouble breathing. Floyd said, "I can't breathe" at least 27 times in bystander video of his death.