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‘The Justice System Has Provided’: Family, Officials React To Kim Potter’s Guilty Verdict

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WATCH LIVE: Continuous Trial Coverage On CBSN

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Former officer Kim Potter was found guilty of both first- and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright on Thursday.

The jury came to a decision after nearly 28 hours of deliberations on mid-day Thursday, and the verdict was read soon after.

Potter, who showed no emotion during the reading, was taken away in handcuffs. She will be sentenced on Friday, Feb. 18.

“The family of Daunte Wright is relieved that the justice system has provided some measure of accountability for the senseless death of their son, brother, father and friend,” wrote Benjamin Crump, a civil right’s attorney representing Wright’s family.

“From the unnecessary and overreaching tragic traffic stop to the shooting that took his life, that day will remain a traumatic one for this family and yet another example for America of why we desperately need change in policing, training and protocols.” Crump added that now, the focus will turn to making sure Potter receives the strictest sentence, and addressing the “systemic failures” of Brooklyn Center which contributed to Wright’s death.

State Rep. Samantha Vang, who represents Brooklyn Center, said the verdict “is a move towards accountability so no civilian fears for their life in an encounter with police. We have a lot of work to do so our community can have its faith and trust restored in officers sworn to protect and serve.”

Throughout the trial the prosecution argued that Potter was acting reckless when she mistook her firearm for her Taser, trying to prove that Potter was not taking her environment or her training into consideration, and putting her police partners in danger when she discharged her gun.

The defense on the other hand painted a picture of a chaotic struggle, caused by Wright, and an officer who under stressful circumstances made an “action error”; believing she was doing one thing while in fact, doing something else.

Outside the Hennepin County Government Center, people are gathering on Thursday afternoon, waiting for Wright’s family and Attorney General Keith Ellison to speak following the verdict.

Watch their statements live on CBSN Minnesota.

Source: New feed

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