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A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 22 december 2017
Slain Australian’s family demands integrity in US probe

Ruszczyk said he and the the BCA and the attorney
rest of Damond’s family for the officer driving the
were demanding Freeman squad car,” Ruszczyk said
and his colleagues con- Thursday.
tinue to pursue a rigorous The BCA said in a statement
investigation and exami- after the family’s news con-
nation of evidence in the ference that it is “commit-
shooting. ted to conducting a fair,
Freeman was captured on impartial and thorough in-
video at a Dec. 14 holiday vestigation as we gather
reception expressing his the facts and evidence in
frustration about the case. this case.
He said it wasn’t his fault ” The agency said it will
that there was not enough continue to work with pros-
evidence to charge Noor, ecutors as needed to pro-
and that investigators vide additional informa-
“haven’t done their job.” tion as the case is being
Noor has declined to speak reviewed.
with investigators. Minnesota Gov. Mark Day-
Freeman didn’t name the ton defended the BCA,
John Ruszczyk, second left, is supported by his wife Maryan Heffernan, left, his son Jason investigators, but the state saying he understands the
Ruszczyk and his wife Katarina, right, as he makes a statement in Sydney, Thursday, Dec. 21, Bureau of Criminal Appre- family is distraught but the
2017, demanded a more rigorous probe into the fatal shooting of his daughter, Justine Ruszczyk hension is leading the in- bureau has performed its
Damond, by Minneapolis police. John Ruszczyk said his family was deeply concerned about the
possibility “the initial investigation was ot done properly, and with the greatest integrity or sense vestigation. job rigorously.
of completeness.” He has since said he didn’t Freeman’s office declined
(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) know he was being filmed to comment on Ruszczyk’s
and apologized for discuss- statement.
By TREVOR MARSHALLSEA Mike Freeman faulted in- assault. ing the agency’s work in a Noor fired at Damond from
Associated Press vestigators last week when Reading a statement to public setting. the passenger seat of a
SYDNEY (AP) — The fam- he complained that he reporters in Sydney, Da- Nevertheless, Damond’s squad car, across his part-
ily of an Australian woman doesn’t have enough evi- mond’s father John Ruszc- father applauded Free- ner and through the driv-
who was fatally shot by a dence to charge Officer zyk said the family was man’s candid statement. er’s window.
Minnesota police officer in Mohamed Noor in the kill- deeply concerned “about “At the least, Mr. Freeman’s Damond’s death sparked
July demanded a more rig- ing of Justine Ruszczyk Da- the possibility that the initial comments cast doubt on protests and led to a po-
orous probe Thursday after mond. Noor shot Damond investigation was not done the description of how Jus- lice department shake-up,
a prosecutor cast doubts in the alley behind her properly, and with the tine’s death occurred as including the resignation of
on the investigation. home after she called 911 greatest integrity or sense it was initially put out by Chief Janee Harteau.q
Hennepin County Attorney to report a possible sexual of completeness.”
Peru’s president makes his

plea against impeachment

By FRANKLIN BRICENO scandal made $782,000 in
CHRISTINE ARMARIO] payments to his consulting
Associated Press firm a decade ago. Some
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peruvian of the payments overlap
President Pedro Pablo Kuc- with years that Kuczyn-
zynski made a forceful plea ski spent as a government
to lawmakers Thursday, in- minister.
sisting he had no involve- If lawmakers succeed in
ment in payments by Brazil- removing him, Kuczyn-
ian construction company ski would become the re-
Odebrecht to his private gion’s first sitting president
consulting firm and that a ousted over the Odebre-
rushed impeachment pro- cht corruption scandal.
ceeding would threaten Analysts worry the im-
the nation’s democracy. peachment vote could
“I am here to look you in usher in a new period of
the eye,” he said, speaking uncertainty for Peru, which
slowly and assertively. “And is one of South America’s
tell you that I am not cor- most politically volatile na-
rupt and I have not lied.” tions. The vote is scheduled
The 79-year-old former Wall to come just eight days af-
Street banker is in a fight for ter the Odebrecht docu-
his political survival after an ments were first disclosed
opposition-led investiga- and is being pushed by the
tive committee revealed opposition Popular Force
documents showing the party led by Keiko Fujimo-
Brazilian construction giant ri, who is the daughter of
at the center of Latin Amer- jailed former President Al-
ica’s largest corruption berto Fujimori.q