Justine Damond’s devastated family and friends are still trying to come to terms with her devastating and senseless death, just weeks before she was due to marry her long-time love, Don Damond, in an intimate ceremony in Hawaii.
But their quest to find out why Justine was shot could be about to hit a huge snag because of Minnesota law.
The officer who shot Justine, Officer Mohamed Noor, has a constitutional right not to talk to anyone pursuing criminal charges, reports The Star Tribune.
But if he wants to continue working as a police officer, he will be forced to give a statement in a Minneapolis Police internal investigation – And this is where it gets slightly murky:
If he does give a statement in this internal investigation, it can never be used in criminal proceedings against him.
Officer Noor
Minnesota Police released 911 transcripts where Justine can be heard calling the police twice after hearing a “distressed” woman in the alleyway outside her house.
When officers responded to the call, Justine was fatally shot outside her home. She was wearing her pyjamas at the time.
The Mail Online reports Officer Mohamed Noor shot Justine after she “startled” him in the dark.
A friend of Noor spoke to the Mail Online on the condition of anonymity and said Noor opened fire on Justine when an unidentified figure emerged from the dark and ran towards the vehicle.
The 911 caller [Justine] had reportedly been “panicking” when she phoned to report an assault so Noor viewed the situation as tense when he arrived on the scene.
FULL 911 TRANSCRIPTS
Time: 23:27:02
Operator: 911, what’s the address of the emergency?
Caller: Hi, I’m, I can hear someone out the back and I, I’m not sure if she’s having sex or being raped.
Operator: Give me the address.
Caller: 5024 Washburn Avenue South.
Operator: Washburn Avenue South. You said it’s behind (inaudible)?
Caller: And there’s a (inaudible) out the back, yup, yup. And I think she just yelled out “help” but it’s difficult the sound has been going on for a while, but I think, I don’t think she’s enjoying it. I think it’s, I don’t know.
Operator: Okay, well I already got a call started and help on the way. Uh, you can’t see anything, you’re just hearing a female screaming then, is that what you’re saying?
Caller: Yeah. It sounds like sex noises, but it’s been going on for a while and I think she tried to say help and it sounds distressed.
Operator: Okay, I’ve already got an officer on the way. What is your name?
Caller: JUSTINE.
Operator: JUSTINE, what’s your last name?
Caller: JUSTINE.
Operator: JUSTINE.
Caller: Yeah.
Operator: And a phone number?
Caller: (redacted)
Operator: Okay, we’ve already got help on the way. If anything changes before we get there just give us a call right back, but officers should be there soon.
Caller: Thanks.
Operator: Okay, not a problem.
Time: 23:35:23
Operator: 911, what is the address of the emergency?
Caller: Hi, I just reported one, but no one’s here and was wondering if they got the address wrong.
Operator: What’s the address?
Caller: 5024 Washburn Avenue South. It supposed to be Washburn Avenue South.
Operator: Are you JUSTINE?
Caller: Yeah, (inaudible).
Operator: You’re hearing a female screaming?
Caller: Yes, along behind the house.
Operator: Yup, officers are on the way there.
Caller: Thank you.
Operator: You’re welcome, bye.
A date for Justine’s US memorial has now been set and her Australian family will fly to Minneapolis for the service, which will be held on August 11th at 7pm at the Lake Harriet Band Shell.
It’s a venue that can hold 1,000 people and her family say it will be a “celebration of life”.
WATCH: The two police officers involved had their body cameras turned off against regulation.
Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau resigned last week and now Acting Police Chief Medaria Arradondo has made his first public appearance.
He stated Minneapolis police officers must turn on their body cameras when responding to any call, traffic stop or self-initiated activity.
“What good is a camera if it is not being used when it may be needed the most,” Arradondo said.
The cameras were switched off when Justine’s fatal shooting occurred.
Justine’s fiancé Don Damond, who was away on business the night of the shooting, released a statement about his fiancee:
“She touched so many people with her loving and generous heart. She was a teaching to so many and living a life of openness, love and kindness,” he said.
“She was so kind and so darn funny. It is difficult to fathom how to go forward without her in my life.”
Tragically, new footage of Justine three weeks before her death has been released by The Guardian.
Justine is seen rescuing some ducklings in the video. You can watch below:
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
