It's a long walk up the stairs and into the fourth district criminal court in Minneapolis.

Key points: Mr Noor shot and killed Australian woman Justine Damond Ruszczyk in July last year

Mr Noor shot and killed Australian woman Justine Damond Ruszczyk in July last year She had called police because she thought she heard someone being sexually assaulted in an alley near her home

She had called police because she thought she heard someone being sexually assaulted in an alley near her home Americans are more likely to die at the hands of police than in an air crash

It probably felt like a mile for former police officer Mohamed Noor.

More used to escorting the accused than being in the frame, the officer was peppered with questions from reporters as he made his way through security and into court.

He did not say a word and stared straight ahead — stony faced and silent.

A passerby yelled that he deserved the death penalty and was led away by security as he yelled louder and louder.

About 1,000 people are shot by police in America each year. ( Linkedin: Justine Ruszczyk )

It was a small taste of the fury in the US over Justine Damond Ruszczyk's death.

Inside court it was the usual more formal, controlled environment as Mr Noor faced a scheduling hearing that lasted about two minutes.

We learned the prosecution and defence had no discussions about a deal for the former cop who is facing third degree murder and second degree manslaughter charges.

Mr Noor shot and killed Australian woman Ms Damond Ruszczyk in July last year after she called police because she thought she'd heard a sexual assault in an alley outside her home.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 2 minutes 17 seconds 2 m 17 s Justine was shot at the end of a laneway which runs behind her house in South Minneapolis.

She was unarmed and wearing pyjamas at the time she approached the driver's side of the car to show them to where she thought the assault was.

Then officer Noor fired from the passenger seat hitting her in the abdomen with one fatal bullet.

Mr Noor has not yet entered a plea but is expected to plead not guilty, arguing reasonable force and that he was following his training.

The court heard today that both sides would work with the judge in coming days to set a date for a trial.

It'll be a trial keenly watched here not just by her grieving family but by a nation having a debate about police violence.

About 1,000 people are shot by police every year meaning Americans are more likely to die at the hands of police than in an air crash.

Mr Noor may not appear in court again before his trial but if it proceeds he'll have to get used to the long walk up those court steps.

No police officer in Minnesota has ever been convicted of a shooting death.

Mr Noor was dismissed from the force on the day the charges were announced.

Whether he loses his liberty too will soon be in the hands of a jury at the top of those stairs.