{O/C} In the United States, former Brooklyn Centre police officer Kimberly Potter, who fatally shot a 20-year-old unarmed black young man in Minneapolis, was sentenced to two years in jail.
But Wright's family is dismayed, saying the sentence is too lenient with a murderer.
{SOT}
Approximately 10 months after Daunte Wright's murder, and a 2-year jail sentence, which is about 3.5 times lower than the presumptive prison term of a little over seven years as stipulated by state sentencing guidelines, was handed down.
Kimberly Potter was convicted late last year of first- and second-degree manslaughter in the murder of Wright, who was a 20-year-old young Black motorist.
Innocently mistaking her handgun for her Taser had the distraught former suburban Minneapolis 26-year police veteran sobbing and apologising for Wright's demise.
{Soundbite} KIMBERLY POTTER, Former Minneapolis Police Officer: I am so sorry that I brought the death of your son. And I am sorry I broke your heart. My heart is broken for all of you. I didn't even have a right to be in the same room with you.
Amid the backdrop of snide remarks against Black people and the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, who fatally shot George Floyd back in 2020, Potter's words, coupled with the lenient sentence of 2 years only, raised Wright's mother's hackles.
{Soundbite} KATIE WRIGHT, Mother of Daunte Wright: Kim Potter, you murdered my son. She never once said his name. And for that I'll never be able to forgive you. Today, the justice system murdered him all over again.
According to the judge, this accident only merits a 2-year sentence because Potter was in the line of duty and unlikely to become a recidivist. Plus, she did her job in trying to lawfully arrest Wright, who owned expired licence tags.
{Soundbite} REGINA CHU, Hennepin County District Court Judge: Mr. and Mrs. Wright, I cannot begin to understand the grief of losing a child. Officer Potter, who made a mistake that ended tragically... She never intended to hurt anyone.
Wright's father is outraged that Black people have now become easy prey because the judge's concern was misplaced.
{Soundbite} AUBREY WRIGHT, Father of Daunte Wright: This lady got a slap on the wrist, and we still every night sitting around crying, waiting for my son to come home.
Wright's mother found solace in joining a small group of supporters of Daunte's.
The fatal shooting amid an era of racial reckoning triggered national outrage and sent the country teetering on a flashpoint.
Like it or not, the United States will have to jump through hoops to stamp out racism root and branch.
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