Last night, ABC‘s Australian Story broadcast extremely emotive interviews with the family of Justine Damond.
The 40-year-old’s tragic and senseless death on July 15 shocked the nation as it was revealed she’d been shot by a police officer after reporting a suspected sexual assault outside her home.
The Australian bride-to-be was fatally shot in the stomach in her pyjamas by officer Mohamed Noor in her adopted home of Minneapolis, America.
Now her Aussie family are speaking out, along with her fiancé Don Damond – they desperately want justice for their beloved Justine.
Heartbreakingly, she’d been excitedly receiving bridesmaids dresses on the morning of her death.
“In true Justine form, she’d decided to order 10 different ones for two bridesmaids to arrive at her house [that day],” friend Jen Hearn revealed.
She was due to marry Don Damond in Hawaii the following month.
In a cruel twist of fate, he was away on business when Justine heard the noises in the laneway outside her home. She called him first and they decided she should phone the police.
“That night I told Justine to call 911, I had this conception that when she said, ‘the police are here,’ I felt like all is well, like the knights in shining armour have arrived,” Don revealed.
“I’ll never feel that way again.”
Source: Australian Story.
Justine and Don. Source: Australian Story.
Justine moved from Sydney’s Northern Beaches to Minneapolis to be with Don. Her father, John Ruszczyk, said he initially hoped Don would move to Sydney.
Speaking of the night of the tragedy, John said:
“I can only suppose that she came out of the house and realising that the police car had gone past the site of the incident, she walked up to the police car.
“And for some unknown reason, a man shot and killed her.
“She did what any Aussie woman would do — go to the police because you know it’s safe and they’re going to get to the bottom of it. In this case, it was the wrong decision.”
Justine with her family. Source: Australian Story.
Journalists from the Star Tribune discovered 162 people have died in encounters with the Minnesota police since 2000 but charges have only ever been laid against one Minnesota police officer who was never convicted of the shooting.
Officer Noor has refused to speak to investigators about the incident. A decision on whether Mohamed Noor will be charged with Justine Damond’s death is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
“The waiting is awful,” Justine’s brother, Jason said.
“I wake up every morning and think about Juzzy and how it happened and I don’t understand why. We really need some answers soon.”
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.
Watch the full episode of Australian Story here.
