advertisement

Prosecutors target officer's report of noise before shooting

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Prosecutors in the case of a Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an unarmed woman have been hammering away at what could be a key element of the defense.

That element is whether Mohamed Noor heard a loud slap against his police SUV that stirred fears of an ambush.

The prosecution has tried to raise doubts about whether that slap occurred and attacked officers and investigators for apparent missteps. Testimony indicated that police at the scene turned body cameras on and off at will and possibly disturbed evidence.

Noor is on trial for murder and manslaughter in the 2017 death of 40-year-old Justine Ruszczyk Damond. She was shot as she approached the vehicle after reporting a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home.

FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2017, file photo, Johanna Morrow plays the didgeridoo during a memorial service for Justine Ruszczyk Damond at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor, who fatally shot Damond, an unarmed woman who called 911, has revealed possible missteps by police and investigators. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP, File) The Associated Press
FILE - In this April 1, 2019, file photo, former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor leaves the Hennepin County Government Center after the first day of trial in Minneapolis. Noor is charged in the July 2017 death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, who was killed after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault behind her home. (Evan Frost/Minnesota Public Radio via AP, File) The Associated Press
In this July 16, 2017, photo, police and investigators work at the scene where Justine Ruszczyk Damond was shot overnight in Minneapolis. Former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor is charged in the July 2017 death of Damond, who was killed after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault behind her home. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.