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'Someone has to be convicted': Damond family want action on US police shooting

The family of Justine Damond, the Sydney woman shot and killed by a police officer in the US, have detailed their painful quest for justice.

In this Aug. 11, 2017, file photo, Johanna Morrow plays the didgeridoo during a memorial service for Justine Damond in Minneapolis.
In this Aug. 11, 2017, file photo, Johanna Morrow plays the didgeridoo during a memorial service for Justine Damond in Minneapolis. Source: AAP

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The family of Justine Damond, the former Sydney yoga teacher shot and killed by a police officer in the US, say a conviction over her death is necessary to change the dynamic of police violence.

Ms Damond called 911 just before midnight on July 15 to report a woman screaming in her affluent Minneapolis neighbourhood.

"She did what any Aussie woman would do," Justine's father John Ruszczyk told the ABC in an interview screened on Monday.

"Go to the police because you know it's safe and they're going to get to the answer of it.

"In this case, it was the wrong decision."

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When Ms Damond approached rookie officer Mohamed Noor's police car in an alley behind her home he shot across his partner and out the window where the Australian was standing in her pyjamas.

She was killed "at the peak of her wave", a friend said.

Officer Noor, following legal advice, declined to speak publicly or to investigators.

Ms Damond's death added to already bubbling racial and law and order turmoil in the US city.

Criminal justice advocate Jason Sole said the United States had a long-standing problem with police violence which had to change

"In no just society should you be the one calling police for help and end up dead," he said.

"So, here we have a longstanding problem and it's time for us to fix it."

He detailed the case of Philando Castille, an African-American man shot and killed during a traffic stop. The officer responsible escaped conviction.

Mr Sowell wants Ms Damond's case to set a new precedent.

"You have to convict this officer so we can help the system get better, regardless of whether he was a black man or she was a white woman," he said.

"Someone has to be convicted so a new standard is set."

Mr Damond said there must be accountability for why someone would take the life of another.

"We feel like true justice for Justine isn't one police officer being convicted, we feel like true justice for Justine is a systemic change in policing,' he said.

He believes justice will come but a change will also come on a deeper, spiritual level.

"That's what Justine would want, you know, and that's who she was," he said.

Ms Damond's family said they want to see the matter before the courts and have been frustrated by a lack of information while investigators consider charging Officer Noor.

"Somebody took my daughter's life for no reason and I think that's a crime and I'd like to see him in court," Mr Ruszczyk said.


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