Ex-Minneapolis cop intends to plead not guilty in killing
Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 25, 2018
MINNEAPOLIS — A former Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed an Australian woman after she called 911 to report a possible assault intends to plead not guilty.
Court documents filed Wednesday show Mohamed Noor will plead not guilty at his May 8 court appearance. The documents also say Noor intends to present self-defense and reasonable force defenses.
Noor is charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the July 15 death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond.
Prosecutors said Noor was in a squad car’s passenger seat when he shot Damond through the open driver’s side window after she approached the vehicle.
When charges were announced, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said there was no evidence Noor encountered a threat that justified using deadly force.