MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Jurors at the manslaughter trial of Kim Potter have been getting two versions of the white former suburban Minneapolis police officer, who says she made a tragic mistake when she fired her handgun instead of her Taser and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright.
Prosecutors have portrayed the longtime Brooklyn Center officer as an experienced police veteran who should have known better and who made the situation worse by failing to try to help Wright or even to quickly radio in what happened so others might help him.
The defense would like jurors to see the person who became interested in policing when she was in grade school and who raised two sons while balancing a career in which she took a special interest in helping domestic abuse victims and had never fired her gun or Taser in the line of duty before she shot Wright on April 11.
Soon, Potter herself will take the stand in an effort to reinforce the second image – a gamble that might be critical if she is to persuade the jury to acquit her of the two manslaughter charges she faces.
Susan Gaertner, a former chief prosecutor in neighboring Ramsey County who is now a defense lawyer, said it’s important for any defendant to come across as genuine.