MN - Justine Damond, 40, fatally shot by Minneapolis LE, 15 July 2017 #3

[ilovewings]

Seems that it has now been decided that the city of Minneapolis is going to raise property taxes to recoup its money.


"That money is going to have to be replenished, and that's going to come from property taxes primarily" Carol Becker, chair of the city's Board of Estimate and Taxation, told the Star Tribune.
"People's levies are going to go up."
Justine Damond Settlement Could Increase Property Taxes: Report

I imagine when the citizens feel this increase in their pocketbook they are not going to like it-- this should give the citizens some incentive to get involved in attempting to make their police department more accountable and to improve their policies and procedures, especially with the type of officers they hire. I think we all know that
Noor was not good police material. There are lots of politics involved of course so
it will be easier said than done.

 

[jjenny]

I honestly don't think he even identified his target as a white female. I think he just saw a person approaching and fired. That just can't happen. I know police work is stressful, but I just can't understand how Noor allowed himself to get THAT jittery.

ITA. I believe he just shot at whoever was approaching the vehicle, not even knowing who that was. As of how he allowed himself to get that jittery, sounds like he was unsuited to be a police officer to begin with.

 

[jjenny]

My hubby and I discussed the settlement, heaven forbid we would ever be in that situation...I understand the family not wanting any more drama, and just taking it and leaving.

We would have stood firm for $50 million, rather than be specified to give $2 million to the Foundation. Forget it. I would have gone home, and let the legal team duke it out, and get all hiring records, discipline, training...all on the table.

It would have been useless to stay firm for $50 millions considering city doesn't have $50 million in it's fund. You'd have never gotten that amount.

 

[ilovewings]

It would have been useless to stay firm for $50 millions considering city doesn't have $50 million in it's fund. You'd have never gotten that amount.

you are absolutely right---they would never get 50 million
i am shocked they got 20 million

 

[mickey2942]

It would have been useless to stay firm for $50 millions considering city doesn't have $50 million in it's fund. You'd have never gotten that amount.

True, and I am definitely not judging those folks. Their pain must be immense.

We would have just let the trial go, in order to get all of the information about the supervisors and hiring practices that allowed Noor to continue working, when it was obvious he was not a good fit for the job.

 

[ilovewings]

I am not trying to be argumentative, but geez Louise, do you really expect that family to sit through another trial? The trial that got Noor convicted was, I am sure, more than most any family could handle: I have no doubt they wanted to make the MPD pay in dollars for what they did to their beloved Justine, and be done with it. Again, you can say what you think you would do in that circumstance, but you don't really know what you would do until you are in that circumstance.

 

[SkyBoomer]

I have a feeling Noor will be acquitted- I base this on so many prior cases where police officers have been acquitted --I think people are very reluctant to find the police guilty in these types of situations.
The defense is definitely pushing that the officers were aware of potential ambush situations and they thought this was one of those.

I agree. Frankly, I am rather disgusted by the “circle the wagons” response to the reckless or even outright criminal behaviour of LEOs.

I hope this corrupt tide will turn and soon.

 

[SkyBoomer]

I think the reason for this is Noor would be a target in jail and his life will be at risk.

Welp, them’s the breaks.

He took Justine’s life for zero reason.

If he was such a nervous Nelly, he had no business being a cop, let alone handling a freaking firearm.

 

[SkyBoomer]

And no one thought of Derek Wilson in Ferguson? Why would that be fair?

Wilson deserves no consideration, either.

 

[ilovewings]

Wilson deserves no consideration, either.

that would be Darren Wilson (i googled derek wilson cause i did not
know who that was)---the shooting of Michael Brown cannot in
any way be compared to this case--Michael Brown, if i recall
correctly went for the officer's gun and prior to that
incident he had stolen stuff from a store

 

[ilovewings]

I agree. Frankly, I am rather disgusted by the “circle the wagons” response to the reckless or even outright criminal behaviour of LEOs.

I hope this corrupt tide will turn and soon.

the MPD seems really corrupt---all that trying to protect Noor and trying
to cover up what really happened in that alley---they are despicable

 

[SkyBoomer]

And that makes sense. Just because you are afraid of an ambush doesn't allow you to just start shooting at movement and noise. There could be victims or bystanders/children in the area. There is no justification.

Police are not held to the same standards as other American citizens, sadly. They shoot with impunity.

 

[SkyBoomer]

that would be Darren Wilson (i googled derek wilson cause i did not
know who that was)---the shooting of Michael Brown cannot in
any way be compared to this case--Michael Brown, if i recall
correctly went for the officer's gun and prior to that
incident he had stolen stuff from a store

Respectfully, that is one take on it.

And even if the theft part is valid, six bullets are not an appropriate response from LE.

 

[SouthAussie]

Neighborhood memorial for Justine at the intersection of West 51st Street and Washburn Avenue South ........

The group Justice for Justine will host a rally at the Hennepin County Government Center Wednesday at 5 p.m.

“Race is not protection, your gender is not protection and if we don’t band together and unite, people will keep dying,” said Todd Schuman, a Justice for Justine organizer who visited the memorial.

Neighborhood memorial for Justine Damond becomes place of reflection after Noor verdict

 

[turaj]

Not sure if there is a thread post verdict but I found the sudden departure of Henn. Cty. Attorney Mike Freeman who was on the hot seat to bring these charges is now taking a medical leave of absence for stress. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman takes medical leave

 

[K_Z]

Judge in the Noor trial rules to make trial evidence available to the public and the media, but still deciding if copying is permitted.

Noor will be sentenced June 7.

According to a judicial order filed Monday, the prosecution objected to third-party copying access due to concerns for potential appeals or post trial motions. Members of the media or public have until May 16 to respond to the State's objection to copying the exhibits.

Judge to determine if media can photograph, shoot video of Noor trial evidence

Judge places hold on copying of Noor trial exhibits

Noor trial evidence can be viewed, judge says

Noor trial evidence can be viewed; copying uncertain

 

[SouthAussie]

Well, here we go. The appeal has been filed.
Looks like the nightmare is going to drag on and on for Justine's family.


"Court documents show that Mohamed Noor, who was recently convicted in the shooting death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, is seeking an acquittal.
Noor’s lawyers argue that insufficient evidence existed to sustain the verdicts the jury reached."
Mohamed Noor Appeals Conviction In Shooting Death

 

[ilovechili]

Well, here we go. The appeal has been filed.
Looks like the nightmare is going to drag on and on for Justine's family.


"Court documents show that Mohamed Noor, who was recently convicted in the shooting death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, is seeking an acquittal.
Noor’s lawyers argue that insufficient evidence existed to sustain the verdicts the jury reached."
Mohamed Noor Appeals Conviction In Shooting Death

No surprise really, sadly. I feel for the victim's family. For victims it is not always over with the end of a trial. Then there are those who have to go to parole hearings to keep the perp put away each time parole possibility comes up.

 

[SouthAussie]

This is all over our Aussie news this morning. From what I can tell, Noor's attorneys are focussing on the description "depraved" in his 3rd degree murder conviction.


The former Minneapolis police officer found guilty of murdering Australian life coach Justine Ruszczyk Damond claims he should be acquitted because he did not act "with a depraved heart" when he shot her dead.
Justine Damond Ruszczyk’s killer Mohamed Noor seeks acquittal

Third-degree murder in Minnesota is causing someone’s death by one of two ways:

• A depraved heart or mind murder, which places others in eminent danger of death and disregarding human life (such as shooting a gun into a crowd for fun, but not intending to kill anyone)
• Causing someone’s death by selling, giving away, or administering a Schedule I or II controlled substance (such as selling someone adulterated heroin that kills them)
  Minnesota Second-Degree Murder

depraved-heart murder
: a murder that is the result of an act which is dangerous to others and shows that the perpetrator has a depraved mind and no regard for human life
Murder - FindLaw

 

[K_Z]

Minneapolis weighs ramifications of $20M settlement in Ruszczyk case

The city of Minneapolis' $20 million payout to the family of Justine Ruszczyk, killed by former police officer Mohamed Noor in 2017, is an outlier — and a big one.

The payout in that one case — the largest police misconduct settlement in the state of Minnesota — is nearly as large as the total amount of police misconduct settlements and judgments the city paid out over the past 15 years.

Minneapolis weighs ramifications of $20M settlement in Ruszczyk case