The Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering Australian woman Justine Damond appeared in court and been granted bail at $US400,000 ($NZ553,264).
Mugshot of Mohammed Noor from Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. Photo: AFP
Mohamed Noor acknowledged those he knew in the court and quietly confirmed his name and birth date to the judge.
The 32-year-old has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter over the shooting death of Ms Damond, nee Ruszczyk, in Minneapolis last July.
Applying for bail, Noor's lawyer Tom Plunkett said he was not a flight risk, had a young family and had no connections to any other place.
Mr Noor was granted bail on the conditions he handed in his passport, did not carry a gun, and did not communicate with his former police partner.
Eluding to the level of scrutiny on the case, Judge Kathryn Quaintance said if there was a trial, it would be in the courtroom and not in the media.
Mr Noor's next court appearance was set for 8 May.
Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman outlined the case against Mr Noor when the charges were announced.
"We have a second-by-second understanding of what happened," Mr Freeman said.
"In the short time between when Ms Damond approached the squad car and the time that officer Noor fired the fatal shot, there is no evidence that officer Noor encountered a threat, appreciated a threat, investigated a threat or confirmed a threat that justified his decision to use deadly force.
"Instead officer Noor intentionally and recklessly fired his handgun from the passenger seat in disregard for human life."
Ms Damond called 911 about a possible sexual assault behind her home minutes before she was shot.
A criminal complaint said Mr Noor's police partner on the night, Matthew Harrity, pulled his gun upon hearing a sound and catching a glimpse of someone behind their car.
When Ms Damond came up to Mr Harrity's window he did not shoot but Mr Noor did, firing across his partner's body and killing Ms Damond.
Mr Harrity told his supervisor both men "got spooked" when they were approached.
If convicted of third-degree murder, Mr Noor could face a maximum of 25 years in prison, though the presumptive sentence is 12-and-a-half years.
- ABC
