George Floyd cop gets harsher sentence for 'lack of remorse'

Tou Tao listens to prosecutor Erin Eldridge speak during her sentencing hearing. Credit: Leila Navidi/AP

Police officer convicted of George Floyd's murder given harsher sentence as judge says he lacks remorse

Tou Tao was sentenced to almost five years in prison in a Minneapolis state court for holding witnesses during the murder of Mr Floyd. , who died in May 2020 when another officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for nearly 10 minutes.

Tao previously said he acted as a «human traffic cone» to keep bystanders out of the way incidents where Mr. Floyd begged for his life and said, «I can't breathe.»

The incident was filmed on video. eyewitness video and sparked outrage over police brutality against black people around the world.

Bible references

At Monday's hearing, Tao denied any responsibility for Mr. Floyd's death and spoke of growing up as a Christian during his 340 days behind bars.

In remarks replete with biblical references, he drew parallels to the suffering and false accusations experienced by Job and Jesus.

“I did not commit these crimes,” he said. «My conscience is clear. I will not be a Judas, join the mob for self-preservation, and betray my God.”

Peter Cahill, the Hennepin County Judge who convicted Tao in May, said he handed down a harsher sentence because of his lack of remorse for his actions.

When he sentenced him to four years and nine months in prison, Mr. Cahill said he was hoping for «more than preaching» from Tao.

“After three years of reflection, I was hoping for some more remorse. «, he said.

Upper limit of the sentencing range

The sentence is at the upper end of the range recommended under state rules, where the standard sentence is four years.

The sentence was more than 51 months, which prosecutors requested, and 41 months, requested by Tao's attorney, Robert Paul.

Tao's sentence will run concurrently with a three and a half year sentence for his separate conviction in the case. a federal civil rights charge that an appeals court upheld on Friday.

He will be returned to a federal prison to serve his sentence before being transferred to a Minnesota State Penitentiary, where he will serve the remaining few months of credit. for time served.

Mr. Paul, who called Tao a «good and decent man with a family» in court, later said they would appeal both state and federal cases. He declined to comment further.