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It has to be pretty bad for criminal charges to get filed. This means the civil case is a wrap. The family and lawyers are going to get millions.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/20/us/justine-ruszczyk-officer-charged/index.html
(CNN)A Minneapolis police officer was charged Tuesday with third-degree murder in the death of Justine Ruszczyk, a 40-year-old Australian woman who was shot in 2017 after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault near her home.
Officer Mohamed Noor turned himself in to authorities, said Sherral Schmidt of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis.
Noor is being charged with third-degree murder -- "perpetrating an eminently dangerous act and evincing a depraved mind" -- as well as second-degree manslaughter -- "culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk," according to the Hennepin County Jail website.
In July, Ruszczyk called 911 late at night to report a possible sexual assault in an alley near her home. Fewer than 30 minutes later, she was dead from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. One of the two officers who responded to the call shot her.
update its body camera policy to require officers to activate them upon being dispatched.
Ruszczyk's death caused outrage in the United States and Australia and led to the resignation of the city's police chief.
Though she was a veterinary surgeon in Australia, her native country, Ruszczyk worked as a spiritual healer, yoga and meditation instructor, and life coach in Minnesota.
Ruszczyk and her fiance, Don Damond
Don Damond, her fiance, said the two had planned to marry later that summer.
The Ruszczyk family released a statement, praising the decision to charge Noor, calling it "one step toward justice for this iniquitous act."
"We remain hopeful that a strong case will be presented by the prosecutor, backed by verified and detailed forensic evidence, and that this will lead to a conviction," said the statement released through family attorney Robert Bennett.
"No charges can bring our Justine back. However, justice demands accountability for those responsible for recklessly killing the fellow citizens they are sworn to protect, and today's actions reflect that."
The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis said it could not comment on specifics of the case.
"We recognize the tragic shooting of Justine (Ruszczyk) Damond has greatly impacted, not only her family and friends, our membership, but also our community. We respect the criminal justice process and wait for the case to proceed before making further comment," the group said.
***Mod Edit Update Index***
Update #1: Officer Noor is convicted of murder:
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/151571519/
Update #2: Murder conviction overturned by state supreme court:
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/166075891/
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/20/us/justine-ruszczyk-officer-charged/index.html
(CNN)A Minneapolis police officer was charged Tuesday with third-degree murder in the death of Justine Ruszczyk, a 40-year-old Australian woman who was shot in 2017 after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault near her home.
Officer Mohamed Noor turned himself in to authorities, said Sherral Schmidt of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis.
Noor is being charged with third-degree murder -- "perpetrating an eminently dangerous act and evincing a depraved mind" -- as well as second-degree manslaughter -- "culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk," according to the Hennepin County Jail website.
In July, Ruszczyk called 911 late at night to report a possible sexual assault in an alley near her home. Fewer than 30 minutes later, she was dead from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. One of the two officers who responded to the call shot her.
Ruszczyk's death caused outrage in the United States and Australia and led to the resignation of the city's police chief.
Though she was a veterinary surgeon in Australia, her native country, Ruszczyk worked as a spiritual healer, yoga and meditation instructor, and life coach in Minnesota.
Ruszczyk and her fiance, Don Damond
Don Damond, her fiance, said the two had planned to marry later that summer.
The Ruszczyk family released a statement, praising the decision to charge Noor, calling it "one step toward justice for this iniquitous act."
"We remain hopeful that a strong case will be presented by the prosecutor, backed by verified and detailed forensic evidence, and that this will lead to a conviction," said the statement released through family attorney Robert Bennett.
"No charges can bring our Justine back. However, justice demands accountability for those responsible for recklessly killing the fellow citizens they are sworn to protect, and today's actions reflect that."
The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis said it could not comment on specifics of the case.
"We recognize the tragic shooting of Justine (Ruszczyk) Damond has greatly impacted, not only her family and friends, our membership, but also our community. We respect the criminal justice process and wait for the case to proceed before making further comment," the group said.
***Mod Edit Update Index***
Update #1: Officer Noor is convicted of murder:
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/151571519/
Update #2: Murder conviction overturned by state supreme court:
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/166075891/
Last edited by a moderator:
