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As it happenedended
3 years ago

Daunte Wright news: Kim Potter flees home as unrest expected ahead of charging decision Wednesday

Updates from Minnesota following protests overnight

James Crump,Justin Vallejo
Tuesday 13 April 2021 19:56 EDT
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Watch live as the murder trial of Derek Chauvin continues

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Officer Kim Potterreportedly fled her home after her address was posted to social media, while the mayor of Brooklyn Centre warned of "outside elements" planning to turn peaceful protests into "mayhem".

After 40 people were arrested on Monday night, mayor Mike Elliott asked protesters to go home peacefully before the city’s curfew on Tuesday.

Police fired tear gas at protesters gathered outside the Brooklyn Centre, Minnesota police precinct, in reaction to the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright who was fatally shot by an officer over the weekend

Mr Elliott said there were plans among some “outside elements” plans to turn peaceful protests into “mayhem”.

“Daunte Wright’s death will not be exploited,” he said in a tweet.

“Some outside elements may be planning to show up to infiltrate peaceful protesters and cause mayhem, we will not allow that.”

Both Ms Potter and the police chief who called the shooting an "accidental discharge" resigned from the police department ahead of a charging decision expected to come on Wednesday.

In an emotional press conference, the mother of Daunte Wright described her son’s final moments as she revealed some of his last words to police before he was shot and killed in a traffic stop.

“Am I in trouble?” she heard her son ask police officers before they “scuffled” and the phone call ended.

She was joined by family members of George Floyd, who are currently awaiting the outcome in the trial of Derek Chauvin.

The defence witnesses began delivering testimony this week, with their use of force expert Barry Brood claiming the ex-officer was "justified" in attempting to arrest Mr Floyd.

“I felt that office Chauvin’s interactions with Mr Floyd were following his training, following current practices in policing, and were objectively reasonable,” he said.

Check out The Independent’s updates and analysis below.

3 years ago

‘Am I in trouble?’ Daunte Wright’s mother describes last words before son killed in traffic stop

The mother of Daunte Wright described her son’s final moments as she revealed some of his last words to police before he was shot and killed in a traffic stop.

“Am I in trouble?” Katie Wright heard her son ask police before they “scuffled” and the phone call ended.Justin Vallejo has the details on Mr Wright’s last moments, and how his family is pushing for justice here.

Daunte Wright’s mother describes son asking police ‘am I in trouble’ before being shot

‘My son was laying there unresponsive, that was the last time that I seen my son, that’s the last time that I heard from my son’
Justin Vallejo13 April 2021 19:49
3 years ago

Derek Chauvin’s use of force was justified, police trainer testifies

Derek Chauvin used reasonable force and police tactics during his fatal arrest of George Floyd, police use of force expert and trainer Barry Brodd testified on Tuesday. “You have to try to see it through the eyes of the officers on the scene,” he said. “It’s easy to sit and judge in an office an officer’s conduct.”

Josh Marcus13 April 2021 19:54
3 years ago

Mayor asks for Daunte Wright case to be reassigned to state AG

Mayor Mike Elliott of Brooklyn Center has asked Governor Tim Walz for Daunte Wright’s case be reassigned to the office of the attorney general of Minnesota.

Mr Elliott said the move would ensure transparency and continue to build trust in the community.

Oliver O'Connell13 April 2021 20:16
3 years ago

The ACLU notes that Mr Brodd has previously been an expert witness in at least one other notable trial.

He testified in defence of the former Chicago police officer who murdered 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by shooting him 16 times as McDonald walked away from police.

Oliver O'Connell13 April 2021 20:37
3 years ago

Cross examination of defence witness continues

During cross-examination, the prosecution gets defence witness Barry Brodd that the image of Mr Chauvin with his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck “could be a use of force” because it “could produce pain.”

Mr Brodd had earlier testified that he thinks the prone control of Mr Floyd was not a “use of force.”

Later, the prosecutor asks: “If someone is not resisting, and they’re compliant, the use of ‘control’ as you put it, that could produce pain, is just not justified is it?”

“No,” replies Mr Brodd.

Oliver O'Connell13 April 2021 20:50
3 years ago

Derek Chauvin was “justified” when he put his knee on George Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes last May, a police trainer and use of force expert testified in Mr Chauvin’s murder trial on Tuesday.

“I felt that office Chauvin’s interactions with Mr Floyd were following his training, following current practices in policing, and were objectively reasonable,” said Barry Brodd, a witness for the defence.

Josh Marcus reports.

Derek Chauvin ‘justified’ in using force on George Floyd, police trainer says

He’s the first policing expert to reach that conclusion in this case, but he offered the caveat that using pain-causing techniques on compliant suspects is not justified
Oliver O'Connell13 April 2021 21:02
3 years ago

Charging decision on Kim Potter coming on Wednesday, reports

The Washington County attorney, Pete Orput, said that a decision on whether to charge ex-Brooklyn Centre officer Kim Potter in the death of Daunte Wright is expected in the next day.

“God willing,” Mr Orput told Pioneer Press reporter Mary Divine.

Ms Potter resigned from the department on Tuesday, as did her police chief Tim Gannon, who has called the shooting an accidental discharge.

Justin Vallejo13 April 2021 21:06
3 years ago

The trial of Derek Chauvin in on a ‘technology break'

Proceedings will resume after the 20-minute recess.

Justin Vallejo13 April 2021 21:16
3 years ago

Trial resumes

Still testifying is the defence’s use of force expert, Barry Brodd, being questioned by the prosecution.

Justin Vallejo13 April 2021 21:22
3 years ago

Watch: George Floyd’s friend describes struggle to wake him

“He was already asleep. When they came to the car, and when there and tried to wake him up they tried to wake him up over and over,” said Shawanda Hill of attempts to wake up George Floyd before police arrived.

Friend describes moments before police arrived for George Floyd
Justin Vallejo13 April 2021 21:26

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