Prosecutor: Potter ‘failed’ Wright; defense calls it mistake
3 years ago

Prosecutor: Potter ‘failed’ Wright; defense calls it mistake

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — A suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she mistakenly drew her gun instead of her Taser when she fatally shot Black motorist Daunte Wright went on trial on manslaughter charges Wednesday, with a prosecutor saying Kim Potter had been trained how to avoid such deadly mix-ups but still got it wrong. Potter’s lawyer, though, argued that she made an error, saying, “Police officers are human beings.” And he cast blame on Wright, saying all the 20-year-old had to do that day was surrender. Jurors saw video from officers’ body cameras and the police car dashboard that showed Potter threatening to shoot Wright with a Taser as another officer tried to pull him out of his car. I grabbed the wrong gun!” A car crash can be heard after Wright drives away and Potter — who defense attorney Paul Engh said had never fired her gun or Taser while on duty in her 26-year career — can be heard wailing uncontrollably afterward, “Oh my God.

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History of this topic

Daunte Wright’s passenger sues Minneapolis suburb, officer
2 years, 4 months ago

Daunte Wright’s passenger sues Minneapolis suburb, officer

Associated Press  

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — The woman who was in Daunte Wright’s vehicle when he was fatally shot by police in a Minneapolis suburb last year is suing the city and the former officer who killed him. The lawsuit says passenger Alayna Albrecht-Payton, 21, of St. Paul, was physically injured when Wright’s vehicle crashed into another SUV after Kim Potter shot …

Wright family, activists see injustice in Potter’s sentence
2 years, 10 months ago

Wright family, activists see injustice in Potter’s sentence

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — The issue of race was barely brought up during the trial of Kim Potter, a former suburban Minneapolis police officer who was convicted of manslaughter for killing Daunte Wright after she said she confused her handgun for her Taser. She said the sentence “again underscores why many Black people have a distrust of the justice system at all …

Former officer sentenced to two years in Daunte Wright’s death
2 years, 10 months ago

Former officer sentenced to two years in Daunte Wright’s death

Al Jazeera  

Former suburban Minneapolis police officer Kim Potter has been sentenced to two years in prison for first-degree manslaughter in the killing of Daunte Wright, an unarmed Black man at a fatal traffic stop in April 2021. “A 26-year veteran police officer made a tragic error by pulling her handgun instead of her Taser,” Chu said in sentencing Potter. Speaking before …

Prosecutors drop calls for killer Minneapolis cop Kim Potter to be given longer-than-usual sentence
2 years, 10 months ago

Prosecutors drop calls for killer Minneapolis cop Kim Potter to be given longer-than-usual sentence

Daily Mail  

Minnesota prosecutors are dropping calls for killer cop Kim Potter, who is white, to be given a longer-than-usual sentence for killing a black man during a traffic stop, and now say they're happy with the suggested seven-year prison stretch instead. In a court filing this week, prosecutors said they were fine with existing state guidelines suggesting Potter, 49, serve around …

Juror: Kim Potter made mistake but was still responsible
2 years, 11 months ago

Juror: Kim Potter made mistake but was still responsible

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — A member of the jury that convicted Minnesota police officer Kim Potter of manslaughter in the killing of Daunte Wright says jurors felt she made an honest mistake when she drew her firearm instead of her stun gun, but that she was still responsible for his death. The juror said a turning point in deliberations came when jurors …

Kim Potter guilty of manslaughter in Daunte Wright’s death
3 years ago

Kim Potter guilty of manslaughter in Daunte Wright’s death

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — A suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she confused her handgun for her Taser was convicted of manslaughter Thursday in the death of Daunte Wright, prompting tears from the young Black man’s parents and a jubilant celebration by supporters outside the courthouse who chanted “Guilty, guilty, guilty!” The mostly white jury deliberated for about 27 hours over four …

EXPLAINER: What was Potter charged with in Wright death?
3 years ago

EXPLAINER: What was Potter charged with in Wright death?

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — A white suburban Minneapolis police officer has been found guilty of first-degree and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright, a Black man. Here’s a look at the charges and potential penalties: THE CHARGES First-degree manslaughter in this case means prosecutors alleged that Potter caused Wright’s death while committing a misdemeanor — the “reckless handling or use …

Jury at Kim Potter trial deliberates 3rd day without verdict
3 years ago

Jury at Kim Potter trial deliberates 3rd day without verdict

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — A jury pushed through its third day of deliberations with no verdict Wednesday at the trial of a suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright. The court reported no questions from the jury at Kim Potter’s trial, a day after jurors asked Judge Regina Chu what to do if they couldn’t agree and …

Daunte Wright killing: Ex-US officer found guilty of manslaughter
3 years ago

Daunte Wright killing: Ex-US officer found guilty of manslaughter

Al Jazeera  

A jury in the United States has found former Minnesota police officer Kimberly Potter guilty of two counts of manslaughter in the fatal April shooting of Black motorist Daunte Wright, which set off mass racial justice protests. Daunte Wright’s family members celebrate outside of the #kimpottertrial after she is found guilty of manslaughter ⁦@AJENews⁩ pic.twitter.com/4CzqqrOiLx — John Hendren December 23, …

Jury in Kim Potter trial ends another day without verdict
3 years ago

Jury in Kim Potter trial ends another day without verdict

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — Jurors weighing the case of the suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright asked the judge after a full day of deliberations Tuesday what they should do if they can’t reach a verdict. The judge said they could, overruling an objection from Potter attorney Paul Engh that the gun should remain in the …

EXPLAINER: What is Potter charged with in Wright death?
3 years ago

EXPLAINER: What is Potter charged with in Wright death?

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — A white suburban Minneapolis police officer charged with manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright, a Black man, said she meant to use her Taser to try to stop him from fleeing during an attempted arrest but accidentally grabbed her gun instead. Here’s a look at the charges and potential penalties: THE CHARGES First-degree manslaughter in this case …

Trial of ex-police officer who killed Daunte Wright goes to jury
3 years ago

Trial of ex-police officer who killed Daunte Wright goes to jury

Al Jazeera  

Kimberly Potter, the former Minnesota police officer on trial for killing Daunte Wright, acted recklessly and with “culpable negligence” in mistaking her handgun for her Taser and firing on the young man, a prosecutor has said in closing arguments, while the defence argued the young Black man caused his own death by resisting arrest. Erin Eldridge, assistant Minnesota attorney general, …

Experts: Potter missed chance to explain Taser-gun mix-up
3 years ago

Experts: Potter missed chance to explain Taser-gun mix-up

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — The former Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright alternated between tears, statements of remorse and clipped, matter-of-fact answers as she testified at her trial on manslaughter charges in the death of the Black motorist. He added that Gray didn’t have Potter explain the mistake, saying: “They didn’t even address it.” Mike Brandt, another Minneapolis attorney …

Kim Potter on Daunte Wright death: ‘I’m sorry it happened’
3 years ago

Kim Potter on Daunte Wright death: ‘I’m sorry it happened’

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright told jurors at her manslaughter trial on Friday that she “didn’t want to hurt anybody” that day, saying during sometimes tearful testimony that she shouted a warning about using her Taser on Wright after she saw fear in a fellow officer’s face. She testified that she was “sorry …

Ex-US police officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright testifies
3 years ago

Ex-US police officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright testifies

Al Jazeera  

Kimberly Potter, the former United States police officer who shot dead Black motorist Daunte Wright earlier this year, has testified that the fatal traffic stop “just went chaotic” after the 20-year-old tried to get back into his car and leave. “I remember yelling, ‘Taser, Taser, Taser’, and nothing happened, and then he told me I shot him,” Potter told a …

Expert: Kim Potter was not justified in using deadly force
3 years ago

Expert: Kim Potter was not justified in using deadly force

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — Kim Potter’s use of deadly force against Daunte Wright was not appropriate, a use-of-force expert testified Wednesday at the former suburban Minneapolis police officer’s manslaughter trial, undercutting a defense argument that she would have been justified in shooting Wright even if she didn’t mean to. “The use of deadly force was not appropriate and the evidence suggests a …

Daunte Wright's Killer Blames Him For His Own Death
3 years ago

Daunte Wright's Killer Blames Him For His Own Death

Huff Post  

The trial of Kim Potter, the 48-year-old white cop who shot and killed Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, last April, is underway, and the defense is trying to have it both ways with its argument. But now that Potter is on trial, the defense is instead making a different argument: The only person to blame …

Girlfriend: Daunte Wright was ‘just gasping’ after shooting
3 years ago

Girlfriend: Daunte Wright was ‘just gasping’ after shooting

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — The woman who was riding with Daunte Wright when he was pulled over by police tearfully testified on Thursday about the chaos right after an officer shot him, saying she screamed at Wright trying to get a response but that he “wasn’t answering me and he was just gasping.” “I grabbed, like, whatever was in the car. Albrecht-Payton …

EXPLAINER: What will jurors hear about Daunte Wright?
3 years ago

EXPLAINER: What will jurors hear about Daunte Wright?

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — Jurors at the manslaughter trial for the former suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she mistakenly drew her handgun when she fatally shot Daunte Wright will hear testimony about the kind of person he was – within limits. Wright’s past “is irrelevant if she didn’t know about it,” said Mike Brandt, a Minneapolis-area defense attorney who is not …

Daunte Wright: Fatal US police shooting trial begins
3 years ago

Daunte Wright: Fatal US police shooting trial begins

Al Jazeera  

Kim Potter faces manslaughter charges in the shooting of 20-year-old Black man near Minneapolis earlier this year. A white Minnesota police officer who killed a Black motorist “betrayed her badge” and flouted years of training by mistakenly using her pistol instead of her Taser, a United States prosecutor said during opening statements in the high-profile trial. Assistant Minnesota Attorney General …

Trial begins for ex-officer Kim Potter, who fatally shot Daunte Wright
3 years ago

Trial begins for ex-officer Kim Potter, who fatally shot Daunte Wright

NPR  

Trial begins for ex-officer Kim Potter, who fatally shot Daunte Wright Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP Both sides in the manslaughter trial of former police officer Kim Potter agreed during opening statements that Potter meant to draw her Taser, rather than her handgun, during the traffic stop last April in suburban Minneapolis where she shot and killed a …

Jury nearly complete for Potter trial in Daunte Wright death
3 years ago

Jury nearly complete for Potter trial in Daunte Wright death

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — The jury for the trial of a suburban Minneapolis police officer charged in Daunte Wright’s shooting death neared completion Thursday, with just two alternates needed ahead of opening statements next week. The three jurors seated Thursday include a longtime information technology worker who said he once aspired to be a police officer and participated in a police explorer …

For cop who shot Daunte Wright, will ‘wrong gun’ plea work?
3 years ago

For cop who shot Daunte Wright, will ‘wrong gun’ plea work?

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — When a suburban Minneapolis police officer shot and killed Daunte Wright in April, her reaction on body-camera video seemed to instantly establish the key facts of the case: “I grabbed the wrong gun,” Kim Potter said. As Luckey held onto Wright, Potter said “I’ll tase ya.” The video then shows Potter, holding her handgun in her right hand …

Ex-cop who killed Daunte Wright lays out possible defense
3 years, 2 months ago

Ex-cop who killed Daunte Wright lays out possible defense

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — A former suburban Minneapolis police officer who has said she meant to use a Taser instead of a handgun when she shot and killed Daunte Wright in April is laying out her potential defenses ahead of her November trial. They also might argue that Potter’s “perceived use of a Taser was reasonable” and that there is a lack …

Judge Eyes Dec. 6 Trial Date For Ex-Cop Charged In Daunte Wright Killing
3 years, 7 months ago

Judge Eyes Dec. 6 Trial Date For Ex-Cop Charged In Daunte Wright Killing

NPR  

Judge Eyes Dec. 6 Trial Date For Ex-Cop Charged In Daunte Wright Killing Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP A judge in Hennepin County, Minn., on Monday said probable cause exists to support the charge of second-degree manslaughter against former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter in the killing of Daunte Wright. During a brief court appearance via video conferencing, …

Trial of ex-US cop who shot Daunte Wright to begin December 6
3 years, 7 months ago

Trial of ex-US cop who shot Daunte Wright to begin December 6

Al Jazeera  

The former United States police officer charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte Wright during a traffic stop near Minneapolis last month will go on trial beginning on December 6, a state judge said on Monday. Kimberly Potter, 48, was captured on her colleague’s body-worn camera attempting to arrest Wright on an outstanding warrant in the suburban …

Hundreds join Daunte Wright’s family on march for justice
3 years, 7 months ago

Hundreds join Daunte Wright’s family on march for justice

Associated Press  

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — Hundreds of people joined Daunte Wright’s family and friends on a march through the Minneapolis suburb where he was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop three weeks earlier. The group walked several miles to the Brooklyn Center Police Department where his mother, Katie Wright, called on the crowd to keep saying her …

Daunte Wright killing | Cop who shot Black man arrested, charged with manslaughter
3 years, 8 months ago

Daunte Wright killing | Cop who shot Black man arrested, charged with manslaughter

The Hindu  

The white police officer whose fatal shooting of a young Black motorist during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb ignited three nights of protests and civil unrest was arrested on Wednesday and charged with second-degree manslaughter. Former city Police Chief Jim Gannon, who also resigned on Tuesday, has said police video shows Potter apparently drew her hand gun instead …

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