'It would be nice to know': Killer cop's lawyer's bizarre request
The lawyer representing the police officer who shot and killed Australian Justine Damond Ruszczyk in Minneapolis wants an autopsy on her body reviewed to check if she was on any medication.
Tom Plunkett, who is representing Minnesota police officer Mohamed Noor, wants a second examination of the autopsy’s results.
He told CBS he wants to know if the Sydney woman was on sleeping pills, specifically it would be “nice to know if there was any Ambien in her system.”
He did not elaborate why he wanted to know.
Ambien is a sedative used for to help people with sleeping difficulties.
Mr Plunkett said his client has no plans to speak with investigators.
Ms Damond, who was due to be married next month, was shot dead by a police officer near her home in Minneapolis on Saturday night.
Noor’s partner, Matthew Harrity, told investigators that he and Noor heard a loud noise immediately before Ms Damond approached the police car.
The body cameras of the two officers were not switched on and Chief Janee Harteau, who apologised for the killing, said this should not have been the case.
“It is my belief the body cameras should have been activated,” she said.
“Although our policy is in line with city policy, in line with best practices and other departments in the state of Minnesota, we are making changes to strengthen the existing policy and to ensure the cameras run well.”
Ms Damond’s family are expected to file a large lawsuit in US courts against the City of Minneapolis and Officer Noor.
Robert Bennett, hired by Ms Damond’s family, had told the Minnesota Start Tribune that Ms Damond Ruszczyk is “the most innocent victim” of a police shooting that he has ever seen.
“It’s quite clearly an improper use of deadly force on someone who it is impossible for me to conceive of as a threat to anyone,” Mr Bennett told the Star Tribune Thursday.
“I mean she saved ducklings out of the sewer, for God’s sakes.”
Hundreds of people have marched in a show of support for Ms Damond.
Ms Damond’s husband-to-be Don Damond was among those who marched chanting, “No justice, no peace, prosecute the police”.
Mr Damond consoled Valerie Castile, whose son Philando Castile was gunned down by police in the city last year.
The investigation continues.
