Ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced by a judge in Minnesota for the murder of George Floyd
Judge Peter Cahill said the prison term of 22 years and six months reflected the "particular cruelty" of the killing
Family lawyer Ben Crump hailed the “historic” sentence, says it will bring nation one step closer to “accountability”
George Floyd's sister Bridgett said there was "still a long way to go" in the fight for racial justice
Prosecutors had asked for a minimum 30-year sentence, while Chauvin's lawyers sought no additional jail time
In a victim-impact statement, Floyd's seven-year-old daughter, Gianna, told the court she hoped to meet her dad again someday
Chauvin addressed court to express condolences to Floyds, said unspecified information will be released that “would be of interest"
The sentencing of Derek Chauvin is due to begin at 13:30 local time (19:30 BST) and is expected to last at least an hour.
In Minneapolis, people are already gathering outside Hennepin County Government Center. Some protests are planned nearby, but local security preparations have not been as heavy as they were ahead of the trial verdict in April.
Chauvin's lawyers have been seeking a re-trial - claiming jury misconduct - but their appeals to the judge have so far been rejected.
Their latest motion was batted away by the judge just hours before today's hearing, who ruled that Chauvin had failed to demonstrate "the court abused its discretion or committed error such that the defendant was deprived of his constitutional right to a fair trial".
Earlier this month, Chauvin's lawyer Eric Nelson, filed a request that his client serve his sentence on probation and that he serve no further prison time.
He argued that Chauvin has no prior criminal history, has a good relationship with his family and ex-wife and that he would face violence inside prison.
"Mr Chauvin asks the court to look beyond its findings, to his background, his lack of criminal history, his amenability to probation, to the unusual facts of this case, and to his being a product of a 'broken' system," Nelson wrote to the judge.
Lawyers for the state of Minnesota have asked that Chauvin receive a prison term of 30 years.
They say that aggravating factors mean he should get more than 12.5 years, the sentence local experts say is expected for someone with no previous criminal history.
Judge Peter Cahill said he would consider four aggravating factors in the case, any one of which allows him to exceed the recommended sentencing guidelines.
The four aggravating factors the judge is considering are:
Nada Tawfik
BBC News, Minneapolis
Image source, Getty ImagesThere are small protests outside the courthouse, but fewer of the security measures seen during the highly-charged trial
It looks very different in Minneapolis compared to April, when Derek Chauvin was convicted.
Gone are the National Guard and the fencing around the court.
But, there’s a real awareness that this sentencing will be a defining moment for America.
The maximum sentence for second degree murder in Minnesota is 40 years.
Prosecutors have asked the judge to sentence Chauvin to 30 years – for actions that "traumatised Mr Floyd’s family and the community and shocked the nation’s conscience".
The judge has ruled that Chauvin should face a higher sentence because of several aggravating factors.
Key among them is that Chauvin abused his position of trust and authority and treated Floyd with particular cruelty in front of children.
Defence lawyers are pushing for probation instead of jail time.
Chauvin’s lawyer Eric Nelson said the former officer was unaware that he was committing a crime and, in his mind, he was assisting other officers in Floyd's arrest.
Chauvin, who has never expressed remorse, may or may not choose to speak for the first time at the hearing.
Floyd’s family and members of the community are expected to speak about his crime’s impact in a plea to the judge to hold Chauvin accountable.
Image source, Getty ImagesWhat do we know about the former police officer?
Derek Chauvin, 45, was the most senior officer involved in George Floyd's arrest, having served almost 19 years with the Minneapolis Police Department.
During the arrest, Chauvin was filmed kneeling on Floyd, a black man, for more than nine minutes.
Chauvin’s arrest on murder and manslaughter charges on 29 May 2020 brought his career in policing to an end.
Prior to his career as an officer, Chauvin served twice in the US Army. He was a member of the military police from September 1996 to February 1997, and again from September 1999 to May 2000.
His other previous jobs include security guard and McDonald's employee.
Chauvin was released on bail on 7 October 2020. Up until his trial he kept a low profile. Since his conviction 20 April 2021, he has been held in solitary confinement to keep him safe in prison.
Chauvin's arrest came after a viral video of him kneeling on George Floyd's neck for over nine minutes - while Floyd struggled to breathe - led to the 19-year police veteran's firing and arrest.
The 12-member jury took less than a day to reach their verdict, which was read on 20 April and followed a highly-charged trial that kept the entire country on edge.
To some, the verdict came as a surprise, since US police are rarely prosecuted for deaths that happen on their watch.
For others, the rare conviction in the US of a police officer for the killing of a black man proved that justice had been served - at least in this one case.
The verdict has been celebrated by activists as long-awaited progress for racial justice in the US. Hundred people cheered outside the court as the verdict was announced and monuments to George Floyd have been erected across the US.
A lawyer for the Floyd family, Ben Crump, said the verdict marked a "turning point in history" for the country.
Image source, Getty ImagesSunrise over Minneapolis on Friday, 25 June
Chauvin's sentencing hearing is due to take place in the same Minneapolis courthouse where his six-week trial was held in March and April.
Chauvin's crimes against Floyd call for a statutory sentence of 40 years, but the judge has leniency to decide on a fitting sentence for the career policeman.
Experts expect Judge Peter Cahill to issue a sentence of around 30 years, in line with the punishment requested by state prosecutors.
Chauvin's lawyers have argued that he will face violence in prison, and should be sentenced to probation and time served.
Since his incarceration, Chauvin has been held in solitary confinement.
The hearing is due to begin at 13:30 local time (19:30BST).
Several of Floyd's family members are expected to give victim impact statements, describing how Chauvin's crimes affected their lives.
Chauvin has the right to address the court, but it is unclear if he will do so. During his trial, he spoke only once, informing the judge that he was invoking his right to remain silent.
Thank you for joining our live coverage of the sentencing hearing for Derek Chauvin, the ex-policeman who was convicted of murdering George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis last year.
It's now to the judge who oversaw his six-week trial to determine the prison term for the police veteran, who faces up to 40 years.
We'll be bringing you all the latest updates from inside and outside the Hennepin County courthouse, where Chauvin will soon learn his fate.