The Herald

Ex-police officer set for court over fatal shooting of black man in Minnesota

-

A WHITE former police officer faces her first court appearance over the fatal shooting of a black motorist in a suburb of Minneapoli­s, igniting four straight days of bitter conflict between protesters and officers.

Kim Potter, 48, who quit her job on the Brooklyn Centre force two days after Daunte Wright’s death, has been charged with seconddegr­ee manslaught­er in what her chief said appeared to be a case of confusing her Taser weapon with her handgun.

Many protesters and Mr Wright’s family members have rejected this, saying that either they do not believe it or that the incident reflects bias in policing, with Mr Wright ending up dead after being stopped for an expired car registrati­on.

Potter, a 26-year veteran, was training another officer at the time of the stop. She was arrested and later freed after posting a $100,000 (£72,000) bond.

Mr Wright’s death came as the broader Minneapoli­s area in the state of Minnesota awaits the outcome of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four officers charged over George Floyd’s death last year. “Certain occupation­s carry an immense responsibi­lity and none more so than a sworn police officer,” Imran Ali, Washington County assistant criminal division chief, said in a statement announcing the charge against Potter.

“(Potter’s) action caused the unlawful killing of Mr Wright and she must be held accountabl­e.”

Intent is not a necessary component of second-degree manslaught­er in Minnesota.

The charge –which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison – can be applied in circumstan­ces where a person is suspected of causing a death by “culpable negligence”, which creates an unreasonab­le risk and consciousl­y takes chances to cause a death.

Potter and the police chief

Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom