Video of Justine Damond Ruszczyk's death too 'visceral' and 'shocking', judge says

The judge overseeing the murder trial of an officer who shot Justine Damond Ruszczyk originally banned the public and media from viewing a police video of the incident, fearing it was too graphic.

Former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor claims he shot Justine Damond to "defend others".

Mohamed Noor and Justine Damond Ruszczyk. Source: AAP

A Minneapolis judge has described police body camera video of Australian life coach Justine Damond Ruszczyk dying in an alley as so "visceral and shocking" most people would not be equipped to watch it.

The footage from four Minneapolis police officers - including Mohamed Noor, who shot Ms Damond Ruszczyk dead - has been cleared to be shown to the jury, members of the media and public during Mr Noor's murder trial.

The judge originally blocked media and the public, but an alliance of media organisations successfully argued the ban should be lifted.

"The footage on these BWCs (body-worn cameras) shows the last moments of human life and the struggles of police and medical personnel to save that life," Judge Kathryn Quaintance wrote in a memo filed in the case late on Wednesday.

"These moments are well outside the personal experience of most people.

"Most lay people are not well equipped to take in such visceral and shocking material."

Mr Noor, 33, has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter for 15 July 2017, shooting of Ms Damond Ruszczyk at the entrance of an alley near her Minneapolis home.

He entered not guilty pleas.

Mohamed Noor
Mohamed Noor leaves the Hennepin County Government Centre. Source: AAP

After six days of jury selection the trial began in a downtown Minneapolis court on Tuesday.

Ms Damond Ruszczyk had called the police to report she could hear a woman screaming and asking for help near her Minneapolis home.

It was just before midnight and when she approached the patrol vehicle driven by Officer Matthew Harrity and with Mr Noor in the front passenger seat, Mr Noor fired his gun and shot her in the stomach.

Mr Noor's lawyer has argued the officers were "spooked" and Mr Noor shot in self-defence.

The judge, in her memo, offered insight into what the police video shows.

"Video from their BWCs establishes that Harrity and Noor were standing over the victim, where she lay in the alley, by 11:40.29pm, less than 15 seconds after the shot was fired," the judge wrote.

"As depicted on the BWC, Harrity radioed 'shots fired, one down' and requested immediate emergency assistance.

"Harrity radioed that he had begun performing CPR on the victim at 11:41:39 and Noor took over CPR efforts about a minute later.

"... The recordings capture images of Harrity and Noor each administering CPR, their statements to the victim (who does not appear to be conscious), and her gasping for breath."

Mohamed Noor, the former Minneapolis police officer who is charged in the killing of Justine Damond Ruszczyk.
Mohamed Noor, the former Minneapolis police officer who is charged in the killing of Justine Damond Ruszczyk. Source: AP

The conversations between Mr Noor and other officers captured on the video could prove crucial in the trial.

"Harrity's BWC recording also captures an approximate twenty-second Q&A between Harrity and supervising sergeant after she had arrived on the scene," the judge wrote.

Mr Noor and Officer Harrity did not have their cameras on when the shot was fired.

Prosecutor Patrick Lofton told the jury on Tuesday that officers on the scene switched their body cameras on and off after the shooting.

"When body cameras go on there is a lot of silence," Mr Lofton said.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.


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Video of Justine Damond Ruszczyk's death too 'visceral' and 'shocking', judge says | SBS News