Aussie’s killer ‘quick-tempered’

THE US policeman who shot dead a Sydney woman is known in the townhouse complex where his family lives as quick-tempered, “jumpy” and “extremely nervous”.

New insight into the character of Mohamed Noor emerged yesterday as investigators released transcripts of the two emergency calls Australian life coach Justine Damond made just before Mr Noor shot her dead on Saturday night.

Mr Noor, 31, the oldest of 10 children, is a frequent presence at his parents’ modest twostorey home.

Forklift driver Chris Miller, 49, who has lived next door for two years, said he wasn’t surprised to learn it was Mr Noor who gunned down Ms Damond after she called emergency services about what she thought was a sexual assault taking place in the alley behind her house.

“He is extremely nervous. He is a little jumpy. He doesn’t really respect women. The least thing you say to him can set him off,” Mr Miller said.

“When they say a policeman shot an Australian lady I thought, ‘Uh, oh, but then when they said who it was I was like, ‘OK’.”

He said Mr Noor, who has refused to explain to investigators why he killed Ms Damond, was an ill-tempered presence in the townhouse block.

“He has little respect for women, he has little respect for blacks and kids,” said Mr Miller, an African-American. “He has an air like you just couldn’t really be around him.”

Mr Noor’s partner, Matt Harrity, told investigators Ms Damond was shot as she approached their squad car when a loud noise erupted.

It looks increasingly likely Mr Noor’s defence will be that he panicked and believed his squad car was under attack after the noise — described by some sources as a banging on the car.