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Shola Lee
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Former Minnesota Police Officer Kim Potter has been sentenced to two years in prison after fatally shooting Daunte Wright on April 11, 2021.
In December 2021, Potter was convicted of first-degree and second-degree manslaughter for killing Wright.
The 24-month sentence is said to be less that prosecutors had requested, with Potter reportedly expected to serve 16 months in prison and the rest under supervised release.
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Potter's attorneys argued for a reduced sentence due to her lack of criminal history and expression of remorse, as per CNN.
Wright died during a traffic stop at the Brooklyn Center in Minnesota, last April, after Potter reportedly shot Wright with her gun while trying to deploy her taser.
Kate Wright, Daunte's mother, addressed Potter directly before the sentencing took place, as per the Independent.
In her victim impact statement, the grieving mother said, 'I’ll never be able to forgive you for what you’ve stolen from us.'
Kate also described how she was allegedly held back from her son following the shooting.
She added, '[Potter] referred to Daunte over and over again as the driver, as if killing him wasn’t enough to dehumanise him.'
Kate continued to say Potter 'never once said his name' and that she could never forgive her.
The mother then noted that Potter was 'a police officer who was supposed to serve and protect someone took so much from us. She took our baby boy with a single gunshot through his heart, and she shattered mine. My life and my world will never, ever be the same'.
Kate also addressed Judge Regina Chu and asked for Potter to be held to the 'highest accountability'.
The mother then recounted how Potter, after shooting Wright, allegedly 'rolled around on the ground crying for herself' saying, 'I'm going to prison,' instead of helping her son.
Wright's father, Arbuey, also gave an impact statement in which he said that the tragic incident 'damaged my whole family’s heart'.
Potter reportedly apologised to the family, saying, 'I'm sorry I broke your heart.'
Judge Chu said the sentencing was 'an extremely difficult decision', citing Potter's lack of prior offences and that she didn't intend to use her gun as the reason for the reduced sentence.
She said, '[Potter] drew her firearm thinking it was a Taser, and ended up killing a young man.'
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact Stop Hate UK by visiting their website www.stophateuk.org
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677