Here Are the Charges That Kim Potter Faces

U.S.|Here are the charges that Kimberly Potter faces.

The criminal complaint filed by prosecutors successful Hennepin County, Minn., lists 2 transgression counts against the defendant, Kimberly Potter, a constabulary officer, successful transportation with the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright during a postulation halt successful Brooklyn Center successful April. Both counts are felonies, but neither is simply a execution charge.

Ms. Potter has pleaded not guilty, and her lawyers are expected to reason that the shooting happened accidentally and that she thought she was utilizing her Taser and not her pistol erstwhile she pulled the trigger. Prosecutors person not suggested that the shooting was intentional.

The 2 counts are abstracted and not mutually exclusive; Ms. Potter tin beryllium convicted oregon acquitted of either charge, oregon of both.

Minnesota instrumentality besides allows juries to see convicting a suspect of an “included offense” — a lesser grade of the aforesaid crime, oregon different lesser transgression that was proved successful the people of the proceedings — successful spot of a complaint listed successful the complaint.

Here are the charges:

COUNT I

First-degree manslaughter

One of the ways Minnesota instrumentality defines first-degree manslaughter is causing someone’s decease portion committing oregon attempting to perpetrate a lesser transgression — a misdemeanor oregon gross misdemeanor — successful a mode that a tenable idiosyncratic could foresee would origin decease oregon large bodily harm.

Specifically, prosecutors impeach Ms. Potter of causing Mr. Wright’s decease done reckless handling oregon usage of a firearm.

First-degree manslaughter is simply a felony, punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment and a good of up to $30,000. The modular condemnation for idiosyncratic without a transgression record, similar Ms. Potter, would beryllium astir 7 years.

COUNT II

Second-degree manslaughter

One of the ways Minnesota instrumentality defines second-degree manslaughter is causing someone’s decease done culpable negligence, by creating an unreasonable hazard and consciously taking chances of causing decease oregon large bodily harm.

Prosecutors impeach Ms. Potter of doing truthful portion utilizing a firearm.

Second-degree manslaughter is simply a felony, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a good of up to $20,000. The modular condemnation for a idiosyncratic without immoderate erstwhile convictions would beryllium astir 4 years.