The verdict of conviction for Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd had barely been read when Chauvin’s defense attorneys vowed to appeal. That was only the start. There was nonstop speculation on just what his sentence would be. Prosecutors, of course, wanted the judge to toss the book at him. In theory, that could mean forty years behind bars. That almost certainly wouldn’t happen. It would take more months after his conviction to sort that out and determine his sentence. It will be far less than what prosecutors want.
Then there was the matter of the indictment and trial of the three other former Minneapolis police officers found complicit with Chauvin in the murder of Floyd. They would be tried separately. However, that would be a long time off. They would not see a courtroom for trial until the end of August 2021. That was providing there were no delays. That’s an eternity in time, knowing how public and media memories and interest dim, storylines change, and national and world events would overtake the Floyd murder.
This again raised the question of who wins when the rare happens and a Chauvin is tried and convicted in a wanton slaying? The best that can be said is that there was a momentary whiff of justice for the Floyd family, supporters, and those who are deeply concerned about stopping unchecked police violence in America. But like fame, justice in one case, namely the Floyd case, can be fleeting. Without a massive national commitment to make police reform a top national priority in America, justice will never be fully served when police wantonly kill.
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