.. Wright’s mother said it showed that Potter was not truly sorry for her son’s death
Potter’s lawyer said that no disrespect was meant and that Potter was just following instructions from the prison staff.
Katie Wright raised the issue of the mug shot during her address to the court. Potter, a Brooklyn Center officer at the time, claimed she mistook her handgun for her Taser last April when she fatally shot Wright. In December , she was convicted by a jury.
Katie Wright claimed that Potter didn’t look at her or other Wright family members when they were passing in the hallway during trial. who testified only expressed sorrow after a break, where she was “coached” on how to gain sympathy from the jury.
How do you show remorse after you have been sentenced for manslaughter?” What do you do when your son is dead? Katie Wright asked, “How do you say sorry without crying?”
Damik Bryant (the brother of Daunte Wright) also called the mugshot “painful” urging the judge to impose “strong sentences.”
Paul Engh, defense attorney, began his remarks by responding angrily to the Wright family.
He said, “There’s not disrespect intended for the booking photograph.” “Ms. Potter indicated that they asked her smile. She smiled. It wasn’t meant to be disrespectful. It was in response to the prisoner’s request.”
Potter addressed the court when she was allowed to speak later. She said she was so sorry for the loss of her son and that she did not believe she had the right to look at Katie Wright during the trial.
Potter stated, “I understand the love of a mother and I’m sorry that I broke your heart.”
Potter is white. Wright, a Black man, was shot to death by Brooklyn Center officers after he was pulled over for not having valid license tags and a sachet of air freshener attached to his rearview mirror.
Judge Regina Chu sentenced Potter later to two years. This was well below the request of the prosecutors, who claimed that there were mitigating circumstances.
