US policeman charged with murder
Wed Mar 21, 2018 10:02:am World
4.3K By franklyn Anude
A US police officer has been charged with murder by prosecutors over the death of an unarmed Australian woman,a case that caused an outcry both in the US and Australia.
The charges against officer Mohamed Noor are third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Noor turned himself in after he shot and killed Justine Damond in Minneapolis, in July last year after she called the police to report a possible sexual assault outside her home.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman while making the charges known said Mr Noor had "recklessly and intentionally fired his handgun" but his lawyer said his client acted in line with police training.
"There is no evidence that Officer Noor encountered a threat, appreciated a threat, investigated a threat or confirmed a threat that justified his decision to use deadly force," Mr Freeman told reporters.
He added that Ms Damond was shot through a window by Mr. Noor who was seated in the in the passenger seat of a police patrol car. According to Mr Freeman, Ms Damond put her hands on a wound to her abdomen after being shot and said, "I'm dying" or "I'm dead".
Tom Plunkett, the lawyer for Mr Noor, in a statement said his client should not have been charged. He said "The facts will show that Office Noor acted as he has been trained and consistent with established departmental policy".
The incident led to the resignation of Minneapolis police chief Janee Harteau last year.
Mr Noor faces up to 25 years in prison on the murder charge, and up to 10 years on the manslaughter charge, if convicted.
A joint statement released by Ms damond fiance, Don Damond, and her father, John Ruszczyk, said the decision to charge Mr Noor was welcomed.
"No charges can bring our Justine back," they said in a joint statement.
"However, justice demands accountability for those responsible for recklessly killing the fellow citizens they are sworn to protect, and today's actions reflect that."
Mr Noor is due to face a court in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
The charges against officer Mohamed Noor are third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Noor turned himself in after he shot and killed Justine Damond in Minneapolis, in July last year after she called the police to report a possible sexual assault outside her home.
"There is no evidence that Officer Noor encountered a threat, appreciated a threat, investigated a threat or confirmed a threat that justified his decision to use deadly force," Mr Freeman told reporters.
He added that Ms Damond was shot through a window by Mr. Noor who was seated in the in the passenger seat of a police patrol car. According to Mr Freeman, Ms Damond put her hands on a wound to her abdomen after being shot and said, "I'm dying" or "I'm dead".
Tom Plunkett, the lawyer for Mr Noor, in a statement said his client should not have been charged. He said "The facts will show that Office Noor acted as he has been trained and consistent with established departmental policy".
Mr Noor faces up to 25 years in prison on the murder charge, and up to 10 years on the manslaughter charge, if convicted.
A joint statement released by Ms damond fiance, Don Damond, and her father, John Ruszczyk, said the decision to charge Mr Noor was welcomed.
"No charges can bring our Justine back," they said in a joint statement.
"However, justice demands accountability for those responsible for recklessly killing the fellow citizens they are sworn to protect, and today's actions reflect that."
Mr Noor is due to face a court in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
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