Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued for Twin Cities metro area

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

A Hennepin County judge on Wednesday ruled that all evidence from the trial of former Minneapolis officer Mohamed Noor, except five graphic videos, should be released to the public this week.

The five videos were recorded by officer body cameras, including one worn by Noor, who last month became the first police officer in Minnesota 

 someone while on duty. The graphic footage depicts the victim, Justine Ruszczyk, receiving emergency medical treatment in her final moments of life.

In her order, Judge Kathryn Quaintance ruled that those five exhibits would be edited to blur Ruszczyk's face and exposed body, as well as mute some noises she made.

 last month of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Ruszczyk in July 2017. Ruszczyk had called 911 to report what she thought was an assault in the alley behind her home. Noor shot and killed Ruszczyk after she approached the squad he was in.

The trial of former officer Noor

Why are journalists fighting for release of evidence from the Noor trial?


The judge's ruling comes after a coalition of journalism organizations, including MPR News and the Star Tribune, asked the court to be permitted to copy trial exhibits in the case. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office 

 allowing the exhibits to be copied, citing concerns about Noor's appeal and the "misuse" of graphic evidence.  

Quaintance said in her ruling that there's a legal presumption in favor of copying exhibits from a criminal trial. She dismissed the prosecution's concern that copying evidence could affect Noor's appeals.

"Any post-trial motions or appellate issues will be decided by judges who will have access to the original exhibits," Quaintance wrote. "The possibility of a new trial on remand remains hypothetical."

But Quaintance did find that some of the body camera videos could be exploited "for improper purposes should it be released." She wrote that Ruszczyk's exposed body, distressed face and sounds of her gasping for breath, moaning and vomiting have limited value for reporting purposes. She ordered the prosecution to submit redacted versions of those five videos.

Noor's sentencing is set for June 7 in Hennepin County District Court.

Crime, Law and Justice

Social Issues

NewsPartners

The shooting of Justine Ruszczyk and trial of former officer Mohamed Noor

Jon Collins

Author

Riham Feshir

A judge ruled Wednesday that evidence in the trial of a former police officer convicted of murder, except five graphic videos, will be released to the public this week.

Judge allows copies of Noor trial evidence

Go Deeper.

Like this?