Home | WebMail | Register or Login

      Calgary | Regions | Local Traffic Report | Advertise on Action News | Contact

Login

Login

Please fill in your credentials to login.

Don't have an account? Register Sign up now.

Posted: 2022-02-18T17:01:20Z | Updated: 2022-02-18T17:06:12Z

Kim Potter a former Minnesota police officer who was found guilty of manslaughter for the killing of Daunte Wright, an unarmed 20-year-old Black man was sentenced Friday to 24 months.

Potter will serve just 16 months in prison and be released on supervised release for the remainder of her sentence.

Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu issued the sentence following victim impact statements from Wrights family, including his mother, Katie Wright, who gave emotional testimony to the court asking that Potter receive a long sentence.

Im asking you to hold the defendant to the highest accountability, Katie Wright told Chu during Fridays sentencing.

The Minnesota Attorney Generals office filed a motion earlier this week asking that Potter be sentenced to just over seven years in prison. Potters attorneys had asked the court for a far lesser sentence of probation.

Potter, who is white, fatally shot Wright in April 2021 and was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter in December. Jurors were shown body camera video of the encounter, where Wright was arrested during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, after police found he had an outstanding warrant.

In the video , Potter, who was training another officer that day, can be heard yelling Taser, Taser, Taser! at Wright, before pulling out a gun and firing at him at close range.

In her own statement during Fridays sentencing, Potter spoke directly to Wrights family about the harm she has caused.

I am so sorry that I brought the death of your son, father, brother, uncle, grandson, nephew and the rest of your family to your home, Potter said through sobs. I am sorry I broke your hearts. My heart is broken for all of you.

Before announcing the sentence, Chu said this case was one of the saddest cases Ive had in my 20 years on the bench.

Chu said she handed down a lesser sentence in part because Potter did not mean to shoot Wright with her gun.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost

Here everybody agrees, and the evidence is undisputed, that officer Potter never intended to use her firearm, Chu said.

Potter testified at her trial and maintained that she meant to use her Taser but mistakenly pulled out her gun instead. During a cross-examination, prosecutors argued that Potter was an experienced officer who should have known the difference in weight between a Taser and a gun.

So you went out on the street with a Taser, not knowing what that Taser did? prosecutor Erin Eldridge asked Potter during the trial.

I would assume that on the day I worked, I would know, Potter responded. But I dont know, its been months now.

During Fridays sentencing, Katie Wright spoke through tears about her sons killing.

Your honor, I hope the defendant is listening as I speak loud and clear today, Wright said before Potters sentencing. And yes, I refer to her as defendant, because I will not give her the respect of calling her by her name. She referred to Daunte over and over again as the driver. As if killing him wasnt enough to dehumanize him, she never once said his name. And for that, Ill never be able to forgive you. And Ill never be able to forgive you for what youve stolen from us.

She didnt even try to save him, Wright added.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost