Killer cop refuses interview
MINNEAPOLIS Mayor Betsy Hodges has implored the officer who killed Australian woman Justine Damond to give evidence to investigators probing her shooting by police.
Mayor Hodges fronted the press yesterday to ask Mohamed Noor to break his silence on the incident, after Ms Damond was shot dead by police in Minneapolis on Saturday night.
Officer Noor has refused to be interviewed by investigators.
“We can’t compel him by law, but I wish that he would make that statement,” the Mayor said.
“There are big questions left that we still have and that we hope to have answered soon.
“Why did Officer Noor draw and fire his gun? What happened from the time the officers arrived on the scene to when she was pronounced dead? Why don’t we have footage from body cameras? Why were they not activated? We all want answers to those questions.”
Mayor Hodges stressed the investigation into the incident was not being conducted by the police themselves, as a matter of policy.
While Officer Noor has refused to offer his account of the Saturday night incident, his partner Matthew Harrity told investigators he was “startled by a loud sound” as they approached the alleyway behind West 51st St, where Ms Damond had called them about a possible assault near her residence.
“Immediately afterwards Ruszczyk (Ms Damond) approached the driver’s side window of the squad,” a preliminary investigation report states.
“Harrity indicated that Officer Noor discharged his weapon, striking Ruszczyk through the open driver’s side window.”
A police source told KARE11 Officer Harrity was “stunned” when his partner opened fire, the Minneapolis news station reported.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has committed to seeking answers.
“This is a shocking killing. It is inexplicable ... and we are demanding answers on behalf of her family,” he told the Nine Network yesterday.