Derek Chauvin trial megathread (SENTENCED TO 22.5 YEARS IN PRISON)

[politicallefty]

If there is no guilty verdict, I have to say that I fear for this country. I'd also believe that the justice system has failed so much that it is virtually beyond repair. I certainly would not defend it. A verdict of not guilty would mean that police are above the law and that black lives do not matter. Either of those prospects make me sick to the core.

[politicallefty]

What is the threshold needed for conviction? Is it unanimity? Simple majority? Something in between?

Unaminity.

Unanimity is required for both guilty and not guilty verdicts. Anything short of unanimity in either direction is a hung jury and the judge would declare a mistrial. At that point, the prosecution would retain the right to retry the case in a new trial.

[politicallefty]

I'm not sure how Minnesota law expects those aggravating factors to be counted by the judge, but I think it would be disappointing to see anything less than 25 years. I don't really see any mitigating factors at work in this trial. It would've been more interesting if his fellow co-defendants had said something. Their time in court is after the sentencing, so I'm not expecting anything there.

[politicallefty]

One thing I will say is that 10-15 for Chauvin is probably more "punishing" than a normal person recieving this sentence as he has to spend it all in solitary in all likelyhood.

The problem is that he hits so many of the aggravating factors. Anything near the sentencing guidelines would be an insult to justice. He doesn't have any mitigating factors. He showed no remorse or sympathy to the victim or his family. I'm realistic. I don't expect anything close to the 40-year maximum, despite what I personally think he deserves. The considerable list of aggravating factors were already mentioned above.

The thing is that he could've gotten off on a far lesser charge if he'd showed remorse or sympathy after the fact. It could've potentially taken the 2nd degree murder charge off the table. Every image I saw had him looking smug, arrogant, and defiant.

[politicallefty]

22.5 years in prison for what was an extremely careless and possibly downright evil act, but almost certainly not intentional murder, is way excessive to my mind. I'm not sure why liberals who usually believe in criminal justice and is against excessive punitive measures should be celebrating this.

I would have been fine with a sentence of a few years in prison. That would seem appropriate to me.

Come again?

22.5 years is proportionate, not excessive. Excessive would be life in prison or the death penalty.

Keep in mind that it's only unreasonable in the context of American prison sentencing. Norway has a maximum sentence of 21 years (extendable for cases of terrorism a'la Anders Breivik) and their 'prisons' basically resemble college dorms. I don't know much about Denmark, but I would assume they're very similar.

Yeah, I would expect Shauvin to get a sentence of 3-5 years in prison or so, if it had happened in Denmark. Which seems totally appropriate to me. I am and have always been against excessive punishment.

I think most liberals believe in the rule of law. I'm not always a fan of the judicial system here in the US, but I'm also not a fan of the Nordic system in that respect. The penalty for taking a life, particularly in this way, must have serious consequences. He couldn't even show remorse for his actions.