Kim Potter sentenced to 2 years in prison for Daunte Wright’s death

On this display seize from video, former Brooklyn Middle (Minn.) police officer Kim Potter listens throughout a sentencing listening to Feb. 18, 2022, on the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis. Potter, who stated she confused her Taser and her handgun earlier than capturing Daunte Wright throughout a site visitors cease, was convicted of first- and second-degree manslaughter.

Court docket TV through Related Press

Former Brooklyn Middle, Minnesota, police officer Kim Potter was sentenced to 24 months and fined $1,000 on Feb. 18 for fatally capturing 20-year-old Daunte Wright.

In response to CNN, the sentence is lower than what prosecutors requested and what's permitted by the state sentencing pointers. Wright’s household additionally requested for the utmost sentence attainable.

• However Potter’s attorneys argued for a lesser sentence due to her lack of prior legal historical past and regret. She has already served 58 days and is anticipated to serve 16 months in jail and the remaining eight on supervised launch, per ABC Information.

Decide Regina Chu acknowledged that it was a decrease sentence.

• “This is likely one of the saddest circumstances I've had in my 20 years on the bench,” Chu stated throughout the sentencing. “Officer Potter made a mistake that ended tragically, however she by no means meant to harm anybody.”
• She additionally stated that she obtained tons of of letters on the previous police officer’s behalf.

Potter thought she was utilizing a taser and never her firearm throughout the deadly capturing, in accordance with Deseret Information. She subsequently despatched a letter of resignation.

Wright’s household spoke earlier than the sentencing, in accordance with USA At present.

• “I'll by no means have the ability to forgive you for what you’ve stolen from us,” Katie Wright, Daunte Wright’s mom, stated earlier than the courtroom. ”My life and my world won't ever, ever, be the identical.”
• ”She didn’t attempt to save him. You need to have completed higher,” Wright stated in tears.