Did George Floyd's girlfriend Courteney Ross attend Derek Chauvin sentencing?

George Floyd's girlfriend Courteney Ross made headlines in April when she testified at the trial of Derek Chauvin. Her testimony provided a unique insight into the life of Floyd, while she also campaigned for justice. She's once again back in the news, following the sentencing of Chauvin, on June 25.

Ross' testimony revealed a lot of interesting facts, such as the fact her deceased partner battled opioid addiction. She also revealed he desperately called for his mother while being pinned down by Chauvin moments before his death. In April, we also reported that Ross once taught Daunte Wright in high school. Wright was shot by the Minneapolis police on April 11, when they attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. 

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As the nation celebrated Chauvin's guilty verdict on April 20, Ross wept outside the Hennepin County Courthouse. Following the verdict, she said "God is good. He proved that today." Her words rocketed across the nation, adding to the historic moment for millions. On June 25, she once again offered a simple and powerful take on the verdict, that was widely shared on social media.

Was Ross at the sentencing?

We couldn't confirm if Ross was inside the court when Judge Cahill read the verdict. Most reports indicate that she was outside the courthouse, along with hundreds of others who were celebrating the news. She was interviewed by several journalists and offered a unique take on the perspective. "I’m disappointed by the sentencing I appreciate all the people, all the boots on the ground that made today happen because if it weren’t for all these people making noise we might not have had a sentence at all," she told KARE 11. 

Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison, which as some noticed was the most amount of time an officer was handed. However, it was far from the longest possible sentence of 40 years. However, Ross did see the news as a big win. "If people haven't noticed the positive and the good in all of this, then they are not looking," she told Sky News. Ross added, "If I can remain positive... then everyone else can too."

Ross added "I’m not calling for an evening of peace, but I am calling for an evening of nonviolence. If you are using Floyd’s name in any way to promote that, that is not what he was about. You knew him. He was about peace, love, inclusiveness, and helping people." Those words are particularly important, as the city of Minneapolis has been repeatedly rocked with violent protests, arson, and even looting numerous times since Floyd's killing. 

Chauvin could possibly be released on parole after 15 years, by which time he would be around 60. This verdict doesn't mean his legal troubles are far from over though. The Justice Department is pursuing a federal case against him, for violating Floyd's constitutional rights. Chauvin, along with the three other officers at the scene were indicted by a grand jury in May.