The former police officer who accidentally shot and killed Daunte Wright has been found guilty of manslaughter in the first and second degree:
CBS LOCAL – A jury of twelve has found Kim Potter, the former Brooklyn Center police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright, guilty on counts of both first- and second-degree manslaughter.
Judge Regina Chu has ordered Potter to be taken into custody immediately.
The jury had deliberated for approximately 28 hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Late Tuesday, they asked Judge Regina Chu what they should do if they could not arrive at a verdict. Speaking with the jurors, Chu told them they needed to continue with deliberations with open minds and a willingness to listen to each other’s viewpoints.
In reading back the jury’s verdict Thursday afternoon, Judge Regina Chu said that the jury’s second-degree manslaughter verdict was reached Tuesday morning, but the guilty verdict on first-degree manslaughter was not reached until Thursday at 11:40 a.m.
According to DC Examiner, Potter faces up to 25 years in prison:
She faces up to 15 years in prison for the first charge and 10 years for the second and up to a $50,000 fine, and the prosecution asked the judge to impose a stricter sentence if convicted.
It’s obvious that Potter made a huge mistake and I’m not against her being disciplined up to a point. But first degree manslaughter? C’mon, that’s just too much. There was nothing intentional about this.
I sincerely hope the judge goes easy on her for the sentencing. And if not, I hope her attorneys appeal this decision because it just seems unjust given the chaos of what happened that day.