WHAT’S THE VERDICT?
GUILTY
Jurors found Kim Potter, 49, guilty of both firstdegree and seconddegree manslaughter.
While the verdict fell short of the murder charge and conviction that Daunte’s family and activists had called for, protesters still celebrated outside court.
At Potter’s sentencing hearing this February, she tearfully apologised to Daunte’s family, saying that she prayed for them every day.
But Daunte’s mum Katie begged the judge to hand down the maximum sentence of seven years.
‘She took our baby boy with a single gunshot through the heart and she shattered mine. She took his future,’ she said.
‘I will never be able to forgive you for what you have stolen from us,’ she went on, addressing Potter directly.
Jailing the former cop for two years, Judge Regina Chu said, ‘I recognise there will be those who disagree with this sentence. This does not in any way diminish Daunte Wright’s life. His life mattered. To those who disagree and feel a longer prison sentence is appropriate, as difficult as it may be, please try to empathise with Ms Potter’s situation.’
Afterwards, Daunte’s family spoke of their disappointment.
‘We continue to fight for equal justice under the law, it can’t just be a concept, it has to be real,’ the family’s lawyer Ben Crump told the Press.
‘What we see today is the legal system in America in Black and White,’ he added.