(KNSI) – The jury deciding the fate of a former Brooklyn Center police officer charged with manslaughter will be able to see their family if they can’t reach a verdict before Christmas.
Attorney Mike Bryant with Bradshaw and Bryant Law Firm in Waite Park says it’s an unusual situation.
“It sounds like she’s gonna let them go over the holiday which seems bizarre on a sequestering but, it sounds like they’re going to let them go over the holiday and then come back. As of right now, that is what I understand.”
Bryant says the judge is going to give the jury the time it needs to reach a decision.
“Well, you never want the jury to rush it. I mean, you want them to go to the evidence and make the decision. Now, I would say with the amount of time they’re giving to this, they’re doing what they’re supposed to do. It’s not an incredible amount of time. Everybody’s like, oh my God, this has been so long. Chauvin was 10 hours, Noor was was 10 hours, Yanez, I believe was 30 hours, so, it takes time.”
A jury finished its third day of deliberations on Wednesday with no hint of its progress. The court reported no questions from the jury on Wednesday.
The jury started debating the case around noon on Monday. Potter is charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Danute Wright during an April 11 traffic stop. Police learned Wright was wanted on a felony weapons charge and tried to arrest him. He resited police and jumped back into his car in an attempt to flee.
Potter has said she meant to use her Taser instead of her gun on Wright in an attempt to stop him from fleeing.