Attorneys for Mohamed Noor asked a Hennepin County judge Tuesday to overturn his conviction, arguing the state had not proven the former Minneapolis police officer had a “depraved mind” when he fatally shot Justine Ruszczyk Damond in July 2017.
Star Tribune Noor’s defense team asked Hennepin County District Judge Kathryn Quaintance to throw out his conviction on charges of murder and manslaughter, based on defense claims that “his actions were directed at a specific person.”
Under state law, a “depraved mind” murder suggests someone acting with a reckless disregard for another’s life. Such a charge is more appropriate for someone carrying out a shooting spree or intentionally driving at high speeds the wrong way down a one-way street, argued defense attorneys Thomas Plunkett and Peter Wold.
“The purpose of a motion like this is to ask a district court to reverse a jury’s verdict,” Sabo said. “That is much more narrow than the options that would be available on appeal.”
Bradford Colbert, a resident adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, said he expects the defense’s appeal to revolve around legal issues raised by the judge’s jury instructions and the introduction of certain evidence.
“[A motion for acquittal] is a difficult argument to make, because usually it’s up to the jury to make those determinations, and the court isn’t going to say that the jury got it wrong,” he said.
A jury took less than 10 hours to convict Noor last month of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the death of Damond.
Noor is set to be sentenced in July; he faces a potential 12-year sentence on the third-degree murder conviction and four years for the manslaughter conviction. Jurors acquitted him of the more serious count of second-degree murder.
lodesman says
It should have been obvious that Noor was not suitable for police work. He could not tolerate a woman talking to him as an equal. Never mind as a public SERVANT. The blame here must lie with the senior administration of the city.
TrueBlueInfidel says
Noor was found to be unsuitable for the stress of police work …but was bloody-well hired anyway ! Noor fired multiple shots at point blank range….not just one but multiple. Gees, how bad does it have to get before some form of justice prevails.
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/09/minneapolis-muslim-cop-who-shot-unarmed-woman-was-found-unable-to-handle-the-stress-of-police-work-hired-anyway
Troybeam says
Defense: claim that “depraved mind” is an attack against his Islamic faith thus claiming an unfair trial and demands for a redo, standard practice, anything to get him out of jail and smuggled back to his homeland with facing any charges.
tommy mc donnell says
the mayor that moved heaven and hell to get this guy on the police department should be in jail too. I wish someone would investigate just what she did to get this unqualified and dangerous person on the police department.
Peter35 says
Johnson, yet another murderously stupid black with a huge chip on his shoulder, out to get ‘whitey’.
Gourdhead says
He should have gotten life without the possibility of parole. In addition, I do not do social media so I can’t respond to Charles Johnson’s claim that the so-called police officer was convicted because he is black. This is stupid and pathetic.
Classy Infidel says
The driver of the car would have been the first one to perceive a danger since he was closest to the victim.
He’s banking on the fact it took 10 hours to reach a verdict. So, he’s trying again.
Pray Hard says
Moslems and their psychophants, incessantly hacking away at the rule of law, until we give up, and they can murder us at will with no consequences, without even a question. And, that will just be the beginning. Welcome to Hell.
Rj says
I’m not sure what else to expect from a religion basically designed to allow men and thei every sexual whim an enforceable right
Pray Hard says
If there was even one cop in Minneapolis worth his or her badge, this maggot would have already been put through a wood chipper. But, hey, bureaucrats with guns and badges, huh?
David Rasch says
Real live human beings decide and the legal wordsmiths who may or not have a grasp on reality change their decision.
Burbsmom says
This former cops first name is all we need to know about his “depraved mind.”
Tom says
If I had been on the jury my decision would likely have been reached in ten minutes. Not ten hours. And Charles Johnson sounds like a racist with his stupid comment. Additionally, the sentence rendered was way too light. Should have been life, or more appropriately, a death sentence.
Tom
Porkchopsforthemohomedens says
Fuck that muslime piece of shit. My depraved mind would happily throw the switch if he somehow wound up in an electric chair or a gas chamber.
Jamia says
Why go that far when a bullet to the head would be faster and cheaper? Save the taxpayers some money.
Porkchopsforthemohomedens says
I would be more than happy to pay for the electricity if i got to throw the switch myself
Gourdhead says
I like the way you think. I agree wholeheartedly.
smooth lee says
“My depraved mind would happily throw the switch”
That ain’t “depraved”, it’s realistic. It’s a true public health benefit to eradicate rabid animals, it’s an obvious threat eliminated.
Get in line for pulling the switch (or, pulling the trigger).
Kevin says
I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually meant to kill his partner instead.
Peter35 says
Never. A blond white woman, and a black somali moslem with a gun and a badge? She had no chance.
noor should be just taken out the back and gut-shot.
T.A. Parnell says
GOT TO GET OUT THE LITTLE VIOLINS
G P says
This psycho’s defense lawyers are pure evil, how can they stand their own company?
If there was any justice this cold blooded murderer would have got far worse. One can only imagine what he said to Justine as she lay dying.
There needs to be a law on the statute books so she is not forgotten.
debby says
in o/w, Johnson is saying noor is the victim of a white person. the dude has fucked up eyes btw. he is probably retarded to some extent and whoever hired him needs to be prosecuted also.
Az gal says
It’s sounds almost as if CAIR was behind this.
It disgusts me that he gave her CPR after he fatally shot her. Put his Muzzie mouth on her….