Jury selection to begin in trial of ex-Minnesota officer who shot Daunte
Wright
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[November 30, 2021]
By Nathan Layne
(Reuters) - Jury selection is set to begin
on Tuesday in the manslaughter trial of a white former Minnesota police
officer charged in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, a Black man
whose April death sparked protests in a state already on edge over
George Floyd's killing.
Kimberly Potter, who was a police officer in the city of Brooklyn Center
just north of Minneapolis, has pleaded not guilty to first- and
second-degree manslaughter charges. Her lawyers have said Potter, 49,
mistakenly used her handgun instead of her stun gun in the death of
Wright, a 20-year-old shot during a traffic stop.
Her lawyers also have accused the prosecution of disregarding the
conduct of Wright, who they said resisted arrest and attempted to drive
away. Potter, a 26-year veteran of the police force, resigned after the
incident.
Wright's shooting occurred only a few miles (km) from the courthouse
where Derek Chauvin, a white former Minneapolis police officer, was
convicted in April of murder in the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black
man, during an arrest in May 2020.
Floyd's death sparked demonstrations in many U.S. cities last year
against police brutality and racism. Wright's shooting triggered several
nights of demonstrations in Brooklyn Center, with many viewing the
incident as yet another example of police violence against Black
Americans.
Wright was pulled over by police because he had an air freshener hanging
from his car's rearview mirror and the license plate tabs had expired.
In addition to Potter, two other officers were on the scene as they
attempted to detain Wright after finding that there was an outstanding
warrant for his arrest for a misdemeanor weapons violation.
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A view of the vigil site for Daunte Wright during a press conference
in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, U.S., April 20, 2021.
REUTERS/Nicholas Pfosi/File Photo
Potter can be heard on police body camera video
shouting "I'll tase you," while pointing her handgun at Wright. He
was attempting to get back behind the steering wheel after
struggling to get away from the grip of another officer. Potter then
shot Wright in the chest.
Seconds after firing, Potter said she grabbed the wrong gun, adding,
"I'm going to go to prison," according to an amended criminal
complaint submitted to the court in September.
Jury selection is expected to take about a week. Opening statements
are slated to start Dec. 8. Hennepin County District Court Judge
Regina Chu has ordered the jury fully sequestered once deliberations
begin.
In Minnesota, the maximum sentences for first- and second-degree
manslaughter are 15 years and 10 years, respectively.
(Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Editing by Will
Dunham)
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