PM’S anger at shooting of Australian by US police
AUSTRALIA’S prime minister has demanded answers from the United States over the killing by a police officer of an Australian woman who was shot in her pyjamas after reporting a crime.
The shooting of Justine Damond, a 40-year-old who moved from Sydney in 2015 to be with her American fiancé, has caused outrage in her home country, particularly after it emerged the policeman was already under investigation.
Ms Damond was shot in the stomach about 11.20pm on Saturday in Minneapolis by Mohamed Noor, after he and a colleague responded to her 911 call. Her family said she had reported a sexual assault near her home in Fulton.
In an apparent breach of protocol, the officers were not using their body cameras at the time of the shooting. Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian Prime Minister, expressed anger over the killing, saying it was “inexplicable”.
“How can a woman out in the street in her pyjamas seeking assistance from the police be shot like that?” he told Channel Nine. “It is a shocking killing.”
Mr Noor, 31, has refused to be interviewed by investigators, despite pleas from Betsy Hodges, the city’s mayor.
She said: “Why did Officer Noor fire his gun? What happened from the time the officers arrived 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.”
Mr Noor’s partner told investigators Ms Damond was shot after approaching the police car.
Mr Noor is already being investigated after three complaints were filed about his conduct. One involved a woman who alleged the officer used excessive force in an incident on May 25.
About 200 hundred people held a vigil for Ms Damond at a northern Sydney beach yesterday morning.
Ms Damond and her fiancé, Don Damond, 50, were due be married next month.
“We have lost the dearest of people and we are desperate for information,” said Mr Damond. “Our hearts are broken and we are utterly devastated by the loss of Justine.”