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The mother of late Daunte Wright slammed the judge for not giving the police officer that unintentionally killed her son a harsher sentence arguing that “the justice system murdered him all over again.”
“This is the problem with our justice system today. White women tears trump — trump — justice. And I thought my white woman tears would be good enough because they’re true and genuine,” said Wright, who is white, FOX9 reported.
Hennepin County District Judge Regina Chu, who is of Asian descent, had tears in her eyes as she noted that the light sentencing was due to the indisputable fact that the former police officer Kim Potter intended to use her Taser and not her firearm as Wright tried to flee what began as a traffic stop.
Although the family wants to focus on race and the fact that a white police officer killed a black 20-year old man, the judge did not cite race as a reason for the light sentence, presumably because that would be racist.
“She never intended to hurt anyone,” Judge Chu said. “Her conduct cries out for a sentence significantly below the guidelines.”
Wright’s family had hoped for the maximum sentence possible, and the attorney general requested a penalty of over seven years but Chu ruled that Potter would spend 16 months behind bars, 8 months supervised thereafter and pay a $1,000 fine.
Left explodes when sympathetic judge gives ex-cop Kim Potter reduced sentence for fatal shooting of Duante Wright https://t.co/0OyH3MIL8Q pic.twitter.com/xnIJWmWzUA
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) February 19, 2022
Chu outlined four reasons for a prison sentence including “retribution, incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation” and that Potter, whose otherwise spotless 26-year career, showed she only needed to pay retribution for the incident.
“In this case, a young man was killed because Officer Potter was reckless,” the judge said. “There rightfully should be some accountability.”
Despite stricter sentencing being imposed in other cases like convicted former officer Derek Chauvin who received an over 22-year sentence for killing George Floyd, Chu said this case is “distinguishable.”
“This is not a cop found guilty of murder for using his knee to pin down a person for 9 1/2 minutes as he gasped for air,” she said. “This is not a cop found guilty of manslaughter for intentionally drawing his firearm and shooting across his partner and killing an unarmed woman who approached his squad. This is a cop who made a tragic mistake. She drew her firearm thinking it was a Taser and ended up killing a young man.”
“To those who disagree and feel a longer prison sentence is appropriate, as difficult as it may be, please try to empathize with Ms. Potter’s situation. As President Barack Obama once said, learning to stand in somebody else’s shoes, to see through their eyes, that’s how peace begins,” Chu said.
“Officer Kimberly Potter was trying to do the right thing,” Chu continued. “Of all the jobs in public service, police officers have the most difficult one. They must make snap decisions under tense, evolving and ever-changing circumstances. They risk their lives every single day in public service. Officer Potter made a mistake that ended tragically. She never intended to hurt anyone.”
Social media users were quick to judge Chu’s decision while others applauded her sound reasoning.
Sentence was perfect. Thank you for not caving into for the mob.
— izzy (@azSF) February 19, 2022
Unfortunately they have to deal with this stuff often. They get used to seeing terrible things. The judge should remain neutral and not getting their feelings involved with the court proceedings
— Jeremy (@imjeremytho) February 19, 2022
What struck me about this was that the “judge” never shed a tear for the victim Mr. Wright, she talked about how bad she felt the the convicted murderer and actually cried for the murder, she cried because the white person had to suffer minor consequences, but not for her victim.
— Aaron Gorga (@AaronMGorga) February 18, 2022
Bravo Judge. Love you….
— M B.. (@MitchUdoctor2a) February 19, 2022
racist subhuman monster
— SUZUSHIIRO (@Suzushiiro) February 19, 2022
Those screaming “white privilege”, consider the sentence was handed down by a judge if asian descent.
— Real Talk (@STR8_TALK_NO_BS) February 18, 2022
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