Attorneys for Kim Potter, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted of first-degree manslaughter within the demise of Daunte Wright, are searching for a shorter sentence for his or her consumer.

Potter's attorneys are requesting lower than the standard sentence, together with solely probation after prosecutors advisable a sentence of barely greater than seven years in jail. Potter, 49, who mentioned she confused her handgun for her Taser when she fatally shot Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, is ready to be sentenced Friday.

Potter was convicted of first and second-degree manslaughter in December. She and one other officer she was coaching, Anthony Luckey, stopped Wright, 20, on April 11, 2021, for expired license tags. The officers found Wright had an excellent warrant for a weapons cost. Luckey tried to take away Wright from his car and arrest him, however Wright was in a position to get out of his grasp and again into his automobile.

Potter warned Wright that she would tase him. When he was about to drive away, Potter drew what she mentioned she thought was her Taser and fired, fatally taking pictures Wright. Footage from physique cameras and a dashboard digital camera confirmed that after the gun was fired, Potter mentioned, "I simply shot him...I grabbed the fallacious (expletive) gun!"

Kim Potter, Sentencing, Lower Sentence Request
Kim Potter, 49, is ready to be sentenced Friday after her conviction of first-degree manslaughter in December for the demise of Daunte Wright. On this picture, a demonstrator holds photographs of Wright as he waits for the decision within the trial of Potter exterior the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on December 23, 2021. Kerem Yucel/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

Potter's attorneys mentioned earlier than Potter's manslaughter trial that had Wright obeyed instructions, he would have been alive and argued that Wright was the aggressor.

Potter's lawyer has argued that their consumer has no legal file, is remorseful, and has had a great profession. They mentioned she has the assist of household and associates, and since she isn't a police officer anymore, her danger of committing the identical crime is low.

Prosecutors submitted a sentencing memorandum Tuesday, recommending the sentence of just a bit over seven years. The "presumptive sentence" displays the "seriousness of the loss" of Wright's life and the "culpability of the Defendant's recklessness in inflicting" Wright's demise, Assistant Lawyer Common Matthew Frank wrote. Frank mentioned the sentence additionally took into consideration that Potter has no legal historical past.

A probationary sentence for Potter isn't warranted as a result of she lacks proof displaying she is amenable to probation, based on the memorandum. Potter doesn't present reasoning as to why her regret ought to assist a probationary sentence apart from citing case legislation, the memorandum says. Frank wrote that Potter have to be remorseful for the wrongfulness of the conduct in direction of these harmed which can not have been sufficiently proven, and likewise present that probation advantages not simply her, however society.

Potter will solely be sentenced on her most severe conviction of first-degree manslaughter beneath a Minnesota statute, based on the Related Press. State sentencing tips name for a penalty wherever from just a little over six years to roughly 8 and a half years. Whereas they're advisory, judges cannot go exterior the sentencing vary until they've a compelling cause.

Replace 02/16/22, 6:07 p.m. ET: This text was up to date to incorporate extra data.