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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Justine Damond: prosecutors to consider charges in fatal police shooting | Justine Damond: prosecutors to consider charges in fatal police shooting |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The case of a Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Australian woman Justine Damond in July has been handed over to prosecutors for possible charges. | The case of a Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Australian woman Justine Damond in July has been handed over to prosecutors for possible charges. |
| Mohamed Noor fatally shot Damond, a 40-year-old life coach from Sydney, on 15 July after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home. Noor’s partner, Matthew Harrity, told investigators that he was startled by a loud noise just before Damond approached the driver’s side window of their police car. | Mohamed Noor fatally shot Damond, a 40-year-old life coach from Sydney, on 15 July after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home. Noor’s partner, Matthew Harrity, told investigators that he was startled by a loud noise just before Damond approached the driver’s side window of their police car. |
| Harrity, who was driving, said Noor then fired his weapon from the passenger seat, hitting Damond. | Harrity, who was driving, said Noor then fired his weapon from the passenger seat, hitting Damond. |
| Noor has not spoken publicly about the case. His attorney declined to comment on Tuesday. | Noor has not spoken publicly about the case. His attorney declined to comment on Tuesday. |
| Hennepin county attorney Mike Freeman said his office had received the case on Tuesday and “several senior prosecutors will now carefully review the case file to determine what, if any, charges might be brought”. Freeman expects to decide on charges before the end of the year. | Hennepin county attorney Mike Freeman said his office had received the case on Tuesday and “several senior prosecutors will now carefully review the case file to determine what, if any, charges might be brought”. Freeman expects to decide on charges before the end of the year. |
| The attorney for Damond’s family, Bob Bennett, said her family believes the officer should be held accountable. | The attorney for Damond’s family, Bob Bennett, said her family believes the officer should be held accountable. |
| “They certainly believe charges are merited,” he said in a telephone interview. | “They certainly believe charges are merited,” he said in a telephone interview. |
| The most likely charges may be second-degree manslaughter, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years, Bennett said. | The most likely charges may be second-degree manslaughter, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years, Bennett said. |
| Damond’s fiance, Don Damond, released a statement on Tuesday saying “the wait continues for Justine’s family and me. We want to see justice for Justine”. He said the family hoped Freeman “will act swiftly to review the findings and determine charges”. | Damond’s fiance, Don Damond, released a statement on Tuesday saying “the wait continues for Justine’s family and me. We want to see justice for Justine”. He said the family hoped Freeman “will act swiftly to review the findings and determine charges”. |
| Justine Damond’s legal name was Justine Ruszczyk, but she had already started using her fiance’s last name professionally. | Justine Damond’s legal name was Justine Ruszczyk, but she had already started using her fiance’s last name professionally. |
| During a meeting with Minneapolis residents on Sunday, Freeman said the shooting of Damond “didn’t have to happen. It shouldn’t have happened”. According to the Star Tribune, Freeman told residents that his job was to determine whether Noor did something criminal and whether there was enough admissible evidence to support a charge. | During a meeting with Minneapolis residents on Sunday, Freeman said the shooting of Damond “didn’t have to happen. It shouldn’t have happened”. According to the Star Tribune, Freeman told residents that his job was to determine whether Noor did something criminal and whether there was enough admissible evidence to support a charge. |
| In another high-profile police shooting in Minnesota, Freeman decided that no charges would be filed against two officers involved in the November 2015 death of Jamar Clark – a decision that led to protests in Minneapolis. | In another high-profile police shooting in Minnesota, Freeman decided that no charges would be filed against two officers involved in the November 2015 death of Jamar Clark – a decision that led to protests in Minneapolis. |
| In that case, Freeman broke precedent with the standard practice of having a grand jury decide whether officers would be charged in police shootings and he made the decision himself. Freeman said in a recent statement that he would follow that same practice in the Damond case. | In that case, Freeman broke precedent with the standard practice of having a grand jury decide whether officers would be charged in police shootings and he made the decision himself. Freeman said in a recent statement that he would follow that same practice in the Damond case. |
| Grand juries have declined to indict police officers in the high-profile deaths of blacks in other cities, including the fatal 2014 shootings of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland and 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the 2014 chokehold death of 43-year-old Eric Garner in New York. | Grand juries have declined to indict police officers in the high-profile deaths of blacks in other cities, including the fatal 2014 shootings of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland and 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the 2014 chokehold death of 43-year-old Eric Garner in New York. |
| Freeman noted at the time of Clark’s death that grand juries had been used to consider police shootings in his county for more than 40 years, and no officers had been indicted. He said by making the decision himself there would be more accountability and transparency. | Freeman noted at the time of Clark’s death that grand juries had been used to consider police shootings in his county for more than 40 years, and no officers had been indicted. He said by making the decision himself there would be more accountability and transparency. |
| Another Minnesota prosecutor, Ramsey county attorney John Choi, also opted against a grand jury when his office made the charging decision in the July 2016 shooting of Philando Castile. In that case, the officer was charged with manslaughter and other counts before a jury acquitted him. | Another Minnesota prosecutor, Ramsey county attorney John Choi, also opted against a grand jury when his office made the charging decision in the July 2016 shooting of Philando Castile. In that case, the officer was charged with manslaughter and other counts before a jury acquitted him. |
| Freeman said Tuesday that his office would remain in contact with state investigators as it reviews the Damond case and may ask them to do additional work. | Freeman said Tuesday that his office would remain in contact with state investigators as it reviews the Damond case and may ask them to do additional work. |
| Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report | Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report |
| Justine Damond shooting | Justine Damond shooting |
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| Sydney | Sydney |
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