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Police officer found guilty in Justice Ruszczyk Damond murder case

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American police officer Mohamed Noor who fatally shot Australian life coach Justine Ruszczyk Damond has been found guilty on two charges and cleared of another, News.com.au reports.

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Noor, who responded to Ms Damond’s 911 call about an alleged sexual assault, shot and killed the unarmed 40-year-old when she approached his car in an alley behind her south Minneapolis home on July 15, 2017.

Noor, 33, has been found guilty of third degree murder – intentionally causing bodily harm but not necessarily death – and second degree manslaughter.

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The police officer was cleared of the most serious charge of second degree murder – intentionally killing a person with malice.

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Noor faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

mohamed noor and justine
Minneapolis policeman Mohamed Noor (left) shot and killed unarmed Australian woman Justine Ruszczyk Damond (right) in July 2017

Ms Damond, a Sydney woman living in the US, called police to alert them to a woman’s scream she heard behind her house.

Dressed in pyjamas and walking barefoot, she walked towards the police vehicle but was shot in the abdomen at point blank range.

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Noor claims he fired after hearing a loud bang on his squad car and believed Ms Damond was part of a planned ambush.

Noor’s patrol partner Matthew Harrity testified that Ms Damond had “startled” them.

Ms Damond had planned to marry her fiancé Don Damond a matter of weeks after her untimely death.

Mr Damond and his sister-in-law embraced in the court room when the jury declared their verdict.

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