Potter, 49, claimed she intended to use her Taser to kill Wright. He had pulled away from officers during a traffic stop, and was trying to drive off. After firing one shot, body-camera footage captured her screaming “I’ll Tase You!” and “Taser Taser! Taser!”
Her lawyers also claimed that Potter was within her rights of using deadly force because Wright tried to flee and endangered a fellow officer.
Wright’s death, which was Black, triggered angry protests in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, for several days. This was just as Derek Chauvin (a former white officer) was being tried in Minneapolis for the murder of George Floyd. Potter, who is white was forced to resign two days after the shooting. She was charged with manslaughter.
It was not clear when Potter would stand for the witness stand. Her lawyers also planned to call character witnesses for her, but the judge said Wednesday that they would only be three.
Wednesday’s testimony featured Seth Stoughton, a use-of-force expert who testified on Wednesday for the prosecution. He said that Potter had acted unreasonablely in shooting Wright.
“The use of deadly force wasn’t appropriate, and the evidence suggests that a reasonable officer at Officer Potter’s place could not have believed it was fair to the threat at the moment,” stated Stoughton, who was also a professor at University of South Carolina School of Law and testified in support of Chauvin’s prosecution.
Stoughton reminded jurors of Potter’s warning about using her Taser against Wright. She also said that a reasonable officer wouldn’t have used a Taser if there was an imminent danger of death or severe bodily harm.
Stoughton stated that deadly force would not have been appropriate even if Potter believed an officer was in the vehicle. This is because Wright’s or nearby officers could be shot.
He said that Wright could drive away if he was seen doing so, and shooting would only make matters worse as he could become incapacitated or the vehicle itself would be used as a weapon.
Earl Gray, the defense attorney, attempted to undermine Stoughton’s expertise by interrogating his police officer experience in an acrimonious cross examination. Gray convinced Stoughton that Wright wouldn’t have been shot if it hadn’t been for his attempt to escape. Gray also asked a series questions to Stoughton in an effort to highlight that Wright continued resisting officers despite Potter’s warnings about her intent to use her Taser.
Arbuey Wright Wright, Wright’s father was called by prosecutors as “spark-of-life” testimony. Minnesota courts allow this to humanize victims.
His son was described by him as a typical big-brother who laughed a lot with his younger sisters and that the family met every Sunday. Arbuey Wright was overcome with emotion when jurors were shown photos of him with his son and one of Daunte with their son.
Wright stated that Wright was “so happy about junior.” Wright said, “He loved his son.”
A majority of the jury is white and hearing the case.
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Bauer reported from Madison in Wisconsin. Sara Burnett, Naperville, Illinois and Tammy Webber, Fenton, Michigan were the Associated Press reporters who contributed to this report.
