Kim Potter trial: Parties address jury instructions, autopsy photos

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Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter has been charged with first-degree and second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Daunte Wright. (FOX 9)

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Opening statements in the trial of Kim Potter, the former Brooklyn Center police officer charged in the shooting death of Daunte Wright, will begin on Wednesday, but attorneys for both parties met with the judge Monday to discuss proposed jury instructions, among other things.

Potter, 49, waived her right to appear and was not in court on Monday.

Potter, who is white, is charged with first-degree and second-degree manslaughter for shooting and killing Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, during a traffic stop on April 11. The defense claims the shooting was an accident, that Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun instead of her Taser when she fatally shot Wright. But, prosecutors say Potter was reckless and negligent and should go to prison.

TIMELINE: Daunte Wright's death to Kim Potter's trial

On Monday, Judge Regina Chu ruled on the station’s motion regarding character evidence for Potter to allow limited testimony about her reputation for being peaceful and law-abiding.

The parties also discussed autopsy photos being shown at trial. Judge Chu ruled the photos can be shown at trial, but will not be shown on the live broadcast feed.

Court will resume at 9 a.m. CT Wednesday for opening statements. FOX 9 will stream the Potter trial live, gavel to gavel, at fox9.com/live and on the FOX 9 YouTube channel and the FOX 9 News App.

Potter’s defense team said the 49-year-old former officer will take the stand in her own defense, although Judge Chu stressed that Potter can change her mind. She may request instructions be read to the jury explaining it is her right not to testify, and it should not be held against her if that is what she chooses.

How to watch the Kim Potter trial

Judge Chu has allowed cameras in the courtroom and for the Potter trial to be streamed live. The Potter trial will be streamed live, gavel to gavel, on fox9.com/live, the FOX 9 YouTube channel and the FOX 9 News App. Download the app for Android or Apple.

Full jury seated

It took four days to seat the jury in the Potter trial. Fourteen jurors were seated--12 jurors and two alternates. The jury is made up of seven men and seven women. Three of the jurors are people of color while the rest are white.

The following jurors have been seated on the jury:

Juror No. 2: White man in his 50s. Works as an editor in neurology dealing with medical evidence. Testified that he has an unfavorable view of "Blue Lives Matter." Has always wanted to serve on a jury.
Juror No. 6: White woman in her 60s. Retired special education teacher. She lost one of her four children two years ago to breast cancer.
Juror No. 7: White man, 29 years old. Overnight operations manager at Target and bass guitar player in a local alternative rock band. Took a firearms safety class when he was a teenager.
Juror No. 11: Asian woman in her 40s. Works in downtown Minneapolis and said she was concerned about the unrest following the killing of George Floyd.
Juror No. 17: White woman in her 20s. Has little prior knowledge about the case or legal system.
Juror No. 19: Black woman in her 30s. Mother of two and a teacher. Owns a gun with a permit and a Taser for personal protection.
Juror No. 21: White man in his 40s. Father with previous experience serving on a jury.
Juror No. 22: White man in his 60s. Registered nurse for over 25 years, currently studying to be nurse practitioner. Gun owner. He also manages properties.
Juror No. 26: Asian woman in her 20s. She is in school and has finals and job interviews coming up, but said she was willing to serve if selected.
Juror No. 40: White man in his 40s. Participated in the police explorers program in high school, but ultimately decided not to pursue a career in law enforcement because he was afraid of having to fire a gun.
Juror No. 48: White woman in her 40s. Mother of 2 school-age children. Former IT project manager. Grew up on a farm outside Minnesota.
Juror No. 55: White man in his 50s. Field engineer in cybersecurity. Navy veteran. Gun owner. Enjoys partaking in Renaissance "steel weapons fighting."
Juror No. 57: White woman in her 70s. Mother with children in their 40s. She has served on two prior juries.
Juror No. 58: White man in his 30s. Father of young child. Lives in Eden Prairie. He has a close friend who is a St. Paul police officer.

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