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A28 u.s. news
Diabierna 22 OctOber 2021

Minneapolis cop gets nearly 5 years in killing of 911 caller

der conviction was watched fernan, also asked the judge
closely for implications in the to impose the longest sen- Damond’s death angered cit-
case of Derek Chauvin, the tence. In a statement read izens in the U.S. and Austra-
Minneapolis police officer by prosecutors, they called lia, and led to the resignation
convicted of the same charge Damond’s death “utterly of Minneapolis’ police chief.
in George Floyd’s death. Af- gratuitous” and said that the It also led the department
ter the state Supreme Court Minnesota Supreme Court’s to change its policy on body
overturned Noor’s third- overturning of a “poorly cameras; Noor and his part-
degree murder conviction, written law” didn’t change ner didn’t have theirs acti-
experts said they expected the jury’s belief that Noor vated when they were inves-
the same eventual result for committed murder. tigating Damond’s 911 call.
Chauvin but that it would
likely have little impact be- “Our sorrow is forever, our Noor, who is Somali Ameri-
cause Chauvin was also con- lives will always endure an can, was believed to be the
victed of a more serious sec- emptiness,” they said. first Minnesota officer con-
ond-degree murder charge in victed of murder for an on-
Floyd’s death. Chauvin was The victim’s fiancé, Don Da- duty shooting. Activists who
sentenced to 22 1/2 years. mond, gave his statement via had long called for officers to
Zoom. He started by praising be held accountable for the
Noor’s attorneys, Tom Plun- prosecutors for their “sound deadly use of force applauded
kett and Peter Wold, sought application of the law” and the murder conviction but la-
41 months at the resentenc- criticizing the state Supreme mented that it came in a case
ing, citing Noor’s good be- Court for its reversal, which in which the officer is Black
havior behind bars and harsh he said “does not diminish and his victim was white.
conditions he faced during the truth that was uncovered Some questioned whether
many months in solitary, during the trial.” the case was treated the same
(AP) — A Minneapolis release date as June 27. away from the general prison as police shootings involving
police officer who fatally population. “The truth is Justine should Black victims.
shot an unarmed woman “Mr. Noor, I am not sur- be alive. No amount of justi-
after she called 911 to re- prised that you have been Plunkett said Thursday that fication, embellishment, cov- Noor’s father, Mohamed
port a possible rape hap- a model prisoner,” Quain- much attention has been giv- er-up, dishonesty or politics Abass, denounced Quain-
pening behind her home tance said. “However, I do en to the victim as a kind and will ever change that truth,” tance on his way out of the
was sentenced Thursday not know any authority that giving person — “all true,” he said. courthouse as “the worst
to nearly five years in pris- would make that grounds for he said. But Plunkett said judge in Minnesota” and
on — the most the judge reducing your sentence.” She there is “similar goodness” But Don Damond also “very hateful.” Speaking
could impose but less than cited Noor “shooting across in Noor. He said Noor had spoke directly to Noor, say- to reporters, he said, “This
half the 12½ years he was the nose of your partner” always sought to help people ing he forgave him and had judge hates (the) Somali
sentenced to for his mur- and endangering others the around him, and recapped no doubt Justine also would community” and said he be-
der conviction that was night of the shooting to hand Noor’s good behavior while have forgiven him “for your lieved racism was a factor in
overturned last month. down the stiffest sentence in prison. inability in managing your her decision to impose the
she could. emotions that night.” toughest sentence she could.
Mohamed Noor was initially Assistant Hennepin County
convicted of third-degree Quaintance also remarked Attorney Amy Sweasy, mean- Noor, wearing a suit and tie Days after Noor’s convic-
murder and manslaughter that because neither side had while, asked Quaintance to and donning a face mask, ap- tion, Minneapolis agreed to
in the 2017 fatal shooting of sought a departure from the give Noor the longest pos- peared impassive as the vic- pay $20 million to Damond’s
Justine Ruszczyk Damond, sentencing guidelines, she sible sentence. She said the tim’s loved ones’ statements family, believed at the time
a 40-year-old dual U.S.- was unable to deviate from case “is worse than typical” were read. He later addressed to be the largest settlement
Australian citizen and yoga them. because of who Noor is. the court briefly, saying, “I’m stemming from police vio-
teacher who was engaged to “The most serious sentence deeply grateful for Mr. Da- lence in Minnesota. It was
be married. But the Minne- Noor, who was fired after this court can impose is re- mond’s forgiveness. I am surpassed earlier this year
sota Supreme Court tossed he was charged, has already quired,” she said. deeply sorry for the pain that when Minneapolis agreed to
out Noor’s murder convic- served more than 29 months. I’ve caused that family. And I a $27 million settlement in
tion and sentence last month, In Minnesota, inmates who Damond’s parents, John will take his advice and be a Floyd’s death just as Chauvin
saying the third-degree mur- behave well typically serve Ruszczyk and Maryan Hef- unifier. Thank you.” was going on trial.
der statute didn’t fit the case two-thirds of their prison
because it can only apply sentences and the remainder
when a defendant shows a on supervised release.
“generalized indifference to
human life,” not when the Noor testified at his 2019
conduct is directed at a par- trial that he and his partner
ticular person, as it was with were driving slowly in an al-
Damond. ley when a loud bang on their
police SUV made him fear
Judge Kathryn Quaintance, for their lives. He said he saw
who also presided at Noor’s a woman appear at the part-
trial, granted prosecutors’ ner’s driver’s side window
request to impose the maxi- and raise her right arm before
mum sentence in state guide- he fired a shot from the pas-
lines on Noor’s manslaugh- senger seat to stop what he
ter conviction, 57 months. In thought was a threat.
doing so, she brushed aside
the defense’s request for 41 He was sentenced to 12 1/2
months, which is the low end years on the murder count
of the range. With good be- and had been serving most
havior, Noor could be freed of his time at an out-of-state
on supervised release by next facility.
summer. The state prison
website listed his anticipated Noor’s appeal of his mur-