FORMER US police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to just 21 years in prison after a federal judge ruled that he “violated George Floyd’s civil rights.”

Minneapolis District Judge Paul Magnuson said on Thursday evening that what the ex-officer did on May 25 2020, was “simply wrong” and “offensive” as he opted for the low end of a sentencing range called for in a plea agreement.

The white man pinned Mr Floyd, a black man, to the pavement outside a shop for more than nine minutes, kneeling on his neck, as he pleaded “I can’t breathe,” even after he became unresponsive.

Mr Floyd’s killing sparked Black Lives Matter protests worldwide against police brutality and racism.

Judge Magnuson blamed Mr Chauvin for the death alone as he was the most senior officer present. Three other officers stood by and watched.

He will do time in the federal system where he may be safer and held under fewer restrictions than in the state system.

Despite claims by his attorney that he was remorseful, Mr Chauvin made no direct apology or expression of remorse in his address to the court.