Judge Reduces Sentence for Former Police Officer Mohammed Noor

Racial Reckoning: The Arc of Justice

Noor was initially sentenced to 12.5 years for the 2017 shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, who he shot and killed while responding to her 911 call. His sentence was reduced to four years and nine months.
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Feven Gerezgiher reports:

On Thursday a judge re-sentenced former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor to four years and nine months in prison. Noor was initially sentenced to 12.5 years for the 2017 shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, who he shot and killed while responding to her 911 call.

In September, the Minnesota Supreme Court threw out Noor’s murder conviction, prompting a need to re-sentence him for the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter.

University of Saint Thomas law professor Rachel Moran said Judge Kathryn Quaintance gave Noor the highest possible sentence for the charge.

“I think she's legitimately concerned about what he did that night. He did take someone's life, even if not intentionally,” Moran said.

While the Minnesota Supreme Court decision means Derek Chauvin will likely have his third degree murder charge dropped, Moran said his sentencing will not be impacted.

“He was convicted of a more serious offense, which is second degree murder. And in Minnesota, you only get sentenced on the most serious offense,” Moran explained. “So he's serving 22 and a half years for second degree murder. The fact that he can get his third degree murder conviction vacated doesn't have any practical effect on that 22 and a half year sentence.”

As a former public defender, however, Moran has a low view overall of the criminal system's ability to bring justice through prosecution.

“I don't think it necessarily brings safety to the community. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to criminally prosecute officers at all, but the idea that that's what will now hold police accountable for all misconduct and protect communities that have been the targets of police misconduct… I don't think a couple of criminal prosecutions are going to do the trick,” she said.

Based on time already served, Moran says Noor could be released on parole next summer.