Nathan Layne

(Reuters) – The closing arguments in the murder trial of Kimberly Potter is scheduled for Monday. This was the case against the former Minnesota officer who shot and killed Daunte Wayne.

Potter (49) was the last witness to testify on Friday. It caps more than one week of testimony in a case that rests on the verdict of the jury, which consists of six women as well as six men. The trial hinges on Potter’s recklessness or if he should be acquitted of making a fatal mistake.

She has pleaded no guilty to the first- and second degrees manslaughter, with maximum sentences of 15 or 10 years. According to video, her reactions after shooting Wright with her 9mm pistol on April 11 are supported by her assertion.

The state will need to show that Potter made mistakes and that her actions were reckless and in contravention of law.

The prosecution is expected to highlight Potter’s extensive training during her 26 year tenure as a Minneapolis-based police officer.

Joe Tamburino (a non-involved criminal defense lawyer) said that the prosecution would talk about “three things”: “Accountability, recklessness, and the failure of aid.” He was referring to Potter’s testimony, which stated that Potter did not attempt to locate Wright’s vehicle and to provide first aid following the shooting.

Potter’s lawyers will, however, likely highlight the perceived danger to officers of the traffic stop given that Wright was still on warrant and that Wright was being held without bail. They also point out that Wright had a restraining orders against her and claim that the force used was justifiable, even though she did not have the right weapon.

It is expected that the defense will highlight Dr. Laurence Miller’s testimony on “action error”, which refers to when someone acts while intending to act another. Miller discussed how these mistakes can happen in everyday life such as entering the wrong password to the computer or forgetting the date. They are often triggered by stress.

Potter is white. Wright’s shooting sparked protests in Brooklyn Center for several nights. Many people called the incident police brutality and another example of racism against Black Americans.

The incident occurred just a few miles north of where Derek Chauvin, a white former Minneapolis police officer, was at the same time standing trial https://www.reuters.com/world/us/jurors-resume-deliberations-derek-chauvin-murder-trial-2021-04-20 in the case of George Floyd, a Black man whose 2020 death during an arrest set off racial justice protests in many U.S. cities. Chauvin was found guilty of murder.

Potter broke down on the stand crying, expressing her deep regret. Potter was not required to apologize to the jury. She stated that she had largely lost her vision after the shooting.

Wright had an aerosol can hanging in his rearview and the license plates on his car were out of date. Potter and another officer stopped Wright. Wright refused to be detained after they learned that Wright was wanted for an arrest warrant on misdemeanor weapon charges.

Potter is heard shouting “Taser… Taser… Taser!” on her body-worn video before she fired into Wright’s car, after Wright escaped from another officer. Potter stated that Wright could have been dangerous to her life if he drove away.