As it happened: Floyd family call for 'real, lasting change'

You can read the latest on Derek Chauvin's sentencing in our news story here.

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• The George Floyd case explained

The mood outside Hennepin County Court is tense, with many unsatisfied by Judge Cahill’s sentence.

“I feel it was all a big disappointment,” said Elul Adoga, 22. “I’m angry to say the least.

“We talk about justice, we talk about accountability, and this is neither,” Jordan Allen, 23, added. “We’ve waited for an entire year, we’ve fought for an entire year, this is not what we wanted.”

For Angela Harrelson, George Floyd’s maternal aunt, the decision was “bittersweet”.

“We did good to get the verdict,” she said. “Does the punishment fit the crime? No it doesn’t. But this is why it’s so important for us to keep fighting for a better judicial system.”

Justin Blake, uncle of Jacob Blake Jr, said it was important for supporters of the Floyd family to remain positive if they found any solace in the sentence.

He added that Chauvin’s 22.5-year sentence was still historic, despite people’s disappointment: “He’s one of the very few or first that’s going down.”

Judge Peter Cahill released a 22-page document fully explaining why he gave Derek Chauvin a decade longer than the minimum sentence.

Examining aggravating factors, he said the court had already established Chauvin had “abused his position of authority” by using unreasonable force to hold George Floyd in a position he knew from training was dangerous.

The document describes the placement of Chauvin’s knee as an “egregious abuse of the authority to subdue and restrain” and also cited Chauvin’s particularly cruel treatment of the victim - saying the defendant “manifested his indifference to Mr Floyd’s pleas for his life and his medical distress”.

The document reiterated the judge’s opinion - citing other cases and sentences - that the appropriate custodial sentence was 270 months.

Judge Cahill announces his decision to sentence ex-officer Derek Chauvin to 270 months in prison, or 22.5 years, for the murder of George Floyd.

"I've got a lot of emotions going through my head right now," says George Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd outside court.

"Life, you can't get that back," he continues.

He thanks the activists all over the world - from Japan to Germany - for rallying and protesting against racism after his brother's death last May.

"Your skin colour should not define who you are."

The press conference outside court continues with the Floyd family attorneys each speaking.

"Until black and brown people can get closure and depend on the justice system... we got a lot of work to do," says Justin Miller, the Floyd family attorney.

Miller urges Congress to pass the police reform bill named after George Floyd.

President Joe Biden was just asked in the Oval Office about his response to Derek Chauvin's jail term.

He told reporters he was not familiar with all the details, but said that from the guidelines the sentencing "seemed to be appropriate".

Mr Biden is currently meeting with Afghan leaders at the White House.

Reverend Al Sharpton and George Floyd's family are speaking now outside the court.

"This is not justice because George Floyd is in a grave tonight even though Chauvin will be in jail," he says.

"Justice would have been George Floyd never having been killed. Justice would have been the maximum," Sharpton says, referring to the full 30-year sentence that the prosecution asked for.

He says that "22.5 years is longer than we have ever gotten, but shorter than what we should have gotten in the past."

He then leads the family and other onlookers in prayer.

The family of George Floyd have just released a written statement through their lawyers.

"For once, a police officer who wrongly took the life of a Black man was held to account," they write.

"While this shouldn't be exceptional, tragically it is."

"Day after day, year after year, police kill Black people without consequence."

The statement calls for "real, lasting change in police departments from coast to coast" and for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021.

"My hope for our country is that this moment gives us pause," says Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison after Chauvin's sentencing.

This is one of the longest sentences "a former police officer has ever received" for deadly force, he says in a press conference.

"Today's sentencing is not justice, but it is another moment of real accountability on the road to justice."

Judge Cahill's 22-page memo, explaining how he arrived at 22.5 years in prison for Chauvin, has just been published on the court's website.

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Bridgett Floyd has released a statement praising the prison term for her brother's killer.

"The sentence handed down today to the Minneapolis police officer who killed my brother George Floyd shows that matters of police brutality are finally being taken seriously," she says.

"However, we have a long way to go and many changes to make before Black and Brown people finally feel like they are being treated fairly and humanely by law enforcement in this country."

Bridgett has set up a non-profit foundation in her brother's name.

"Our work at the George Floyd Memorial Foundation has only just begun because the fight for justice is far from over," her statement adds.

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We don't know much about the judge's reasoning - yet.

Judge Peter Cahill has yet to release his 22-page memorandum detailing his reasoning for sentencing Chauvin to 270 months in prison.

But he did say he had arrived at the 22.5 year sentence in part because of aggravating factors.

He cited Chauvin’s “abuse of a position of trust and authority” as well as the “particular cruelty shown to George Floyd”.

Before issuing his sentence, the judge gave short remarks describing how he arrived at a sentence of 270 months, or just over 22 years.

"My comments are actually going to be very brief, because most of it is going to be in writing," he says, pointing to his 22-page sentencing memo.

He said that he will let his written work stand, because this case "is a legal analysis" and "is not based on emotion or sympathy."

"However, I acknowledge the pain felt in this courtroom" and outside the courtroom, says Judge Cahilll.

He says the pain has been felt around the country, but adds: "Most importantly we need to recognise the pain of the Floyd family."

Judge Peter Cahill has now re-entered the room and is ready to announce Derek Chauvin's sentence.

It comes after the court heard from officials and a number of loved ones today - including members of George Floyd's family and the mother of Derek Chauvin.

A reminder of what the former officer is being sentenced over today.

In April he was found guilty on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.

Chauvin could face decades in jail but his defence has requested leniency.

The court is now in recess for 15 minutes as the judge considers what sentence to impose on Derek Chauvin.

Chauvin's lawyers have asked for leniency - including no additional jail time.

Prosecutors have asked he serve 30 years in prison.