{"id":20751,"date":"2021-12-23T19:32:16","date_gmt":"2021-12-24T00:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=20751"},"modified":"2021-12-23T19:32:16","modified_gmt":"2021-12-24T00:32:16","slug":"daunte-wright-death-kim-potter-us-taser-mixup-ex-officer-guilty-of-manslaughter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2021\/12\/23\/daunte-wright-death-kim-potter-us-taser-mixup-ex-officer-guilty-of-manslaughter\/","title":{"rendered":"Daunte Wright death: Kim Potter US &#8216;Taser mixup&#8217; ex-officer guilty of manslaughter"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">A veteran former Minnesota police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter for the fatal shooting of a black motorist in April.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Kim Potter, 49, has claimed she mistakenly drew her gun instead of a Taser and killed 20-year old Daunte Wright during a traffic stop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">His death occurred at a time of high tensions, with the trial over George Floyd&#8217;s murder taking place nearby.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Ms Potter&#8217;s sentencing has been scheduled for 18 February.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Over the course of four days, the 12 jurors deliberated for approximately 27 hours before reaching a decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The first charge against Ms Potter, first-degree manslaughter, is applied to cases in which the defendant causes someone&#8217;s death while attempting to commit a lesser crime.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">In Ms Potter&#8217;s case, prosecutors accused Ms Potter of killing Mr Wright as a result of her &#8220;reckless&#8221; handling of a firearm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The second charge, second-degree manslaughter, is used in cases in which a death is caused by negligence and the taking of unreasonable risk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The first charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine of up to $30,000 (\u00a322,000). The second charge is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y32r44-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper e1xue1i88\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"subheadline-10\" class=\"ssrcss-1nmw0uu-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\"><span role=\"text\">What was the reaction?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">As the verdict was read, Ms Potter kept her head down, looking at the jury only briefly, as her two lawyers placed their hands on her shoulders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Judge Regina Chu then ordered that Ms Potter be taken into custody and held without bail until the sentencing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">One of her relatives could be heard shouting &#8220;love you Kim&#8221; as she was handcuffed, to which she replied &#8220;love you&#8221; as she was being handcuffed, according to court reporters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Outside the courthouse, a crowd of demonstrators cheered, with some chanting Mr Wright&#8217;s name and &#8220;the people can never be defeated&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"unordered-list-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1pzprxn-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi0\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-9nsdc6-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-56760731\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daunte Wright: &#8216;One of those kids everybody looked up to&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Speaking to reporters, Mr Wright&#8217;s mother Katie said she felt &#8220;every single emotion you can imagine&#8221; as the verdict was read, adding that it had been a &#8220;long fight for accountability&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said that the guilty verdict &#8220;shows the whole world&#8221; that those who enforce the law &#8220;are also willing to live by it&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;My thoughts are also with Ms Potter today,&#8221; Mr Ellison added, noting she was &#8220;remorseful&#8221; and wishing &#8220;the best for her and her family&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;But the truth is she will be able to correspond with them no matter what happens. The Wrights won&#8217;t be able to talk to Daunte.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y32r44-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper e1xue1i88\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"subheadline-21\" class=\"ssrcss-1nmw0uu-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\"><span role=\"text\">What happened to Daunte Wright?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i89\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1hq4gmv-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-1drmwog-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/9132\/production\/_118007173_daunteblurred.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/9132\/production\/_118007173_daunteblurred.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/9132\/production\/_118007173_daunteblurred.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9132\/production\/_118007173_daunteblurred.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/9132\/production\/_118007173_daunteblurred.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/9132\/production\/_118007173_daunteblurred.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/9132\/production\/_118007173_daunteblurred.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Daunte Wright\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-5ccyy0-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1yybcoc-Stack e1y4nx260\">Daunte Wright (Image: Katie Wright)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">On 11 April, Brooklyn Center police pulled Mr Wright over to arrest him for an outstanding warrant on a weapons violation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Ms Potter&#8217;s defence team claimed the shooting took place as Mr Wright was resisting arrest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Police bodycam footage played during the trial showed Ms Potter repeatedly yelling &#8220;Taser&#8221; before firing a single shot from her pistol.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Ms Potter is later seen sitting on the pavement crying. At one point she can be heard saying that she &#8220;grabbed the wrong gun&#8221; and that she believed she would be going to prison.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The incident took place as the high profile trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin was underway in Minneapolis, just 10 miles away.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">In his closing argument on Monday, defence attorney Earl Gray argued that Mr Wright&#8217;s actions ultimately led to his death, adding it would be difficult to find that Ms Potter consciously sought to take his life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;How can you recklessly &#8211; consciously &#8211; handle a gun if you don&#8217;t know you have it?,&#8221; Mr Gray said. &#8220;A mistake is not a crime.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Prosecutors said that Ms Potter, a veteran officer of 26 years, should have known the difference between her gun and a Taser.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Assistant Minnesota Attorney General Erin Eldridge argued that the case was about &#8220;recklessness and negligence&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;There&#8217;s no &#8216;mistake&#8217; defence,&#8221; another prosecutor, Matt Frank, said during closing arguments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y32r44-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper e1xue1i88\" data-component=\"subheadline-block\">\n<h2 id=\"subheadline-33\" class=\"ssrcss-1nmw0uu-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\" tabindex=\"-1\"><span role=\"text\">Will this case have a broader impact?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Ayesha Bell Hardaway, an associate law professor at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and the co-director of the Social Justice Institute, told the BBC that it remains &#8220;very rare&#8221; for police officers to be held legally responsible for deaths that happen in the line of duty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Ms Potter&#8217;s conviction, she said, could potentially send a powerful message to police forces across the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;It would be almost axiomatic that an officer should be held to the same standard as the rest of us for reckless behaviour, because the consequences are so severe,&#8221; she said. &#8220;But there&#8217;s still no turning back for the Wright family.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-59776917\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">A veteran former Minnesota police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter for the fatal shooting of a black motorist in April. Kim Potter, 49, has claimed she mistakenly drew her gun instead of a <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2021\/12\/23\/daunte-wright-death-kim-potter-us-taser-mixup-ex-officer-guilty-of-manslaughter\/\" title=\"Daunte Wright death: Kim Potter US &#8216;Taser mixup&#8217; ex-officer guilty of manslaughter\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[109,2,3],"tags":[7672,8191,6152,101,7221],"class_list":{"0":"post-20751","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headline","8":"category-news","9":"category-usa","10":"tag-daunte-wright","11":"tag-kim-potter","12":"tag-minnesota","13":"tag-taser","14":"tag-us-police-killings","15":"pmpro-has-access"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20751"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20754,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20751\/revisions\/20754"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}