Former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor has been found guilty of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Australian woman Justine Ruszczyk Damond. He was acquitted of second-degree murder.



Mr Noor showed no reaction, but his wife cried as the jury’s verdict was read at his trial. The former police officer was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody.

Noor’s attorney asked that he be free on bond pending sentencing June 7, but prosecutors opposed that on the grounds of the seriousness of the case. And the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office said it had concerns about Noor’s safety if he was free.

Justine Ruszczyk and her fiance Don Damond. (Supplied)

Today's booking photos of Mohamed Noor (Nine Supplied)

Mr Noor was charged in the July 2017 death of Ruszczyk, a 40-year-old dual citizen of the US and Australia. Ms Ruszczyk had called 911 just minutes before she was shot to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home.

Ms Ruszczyk’s father John said his family was satisfied with the outcome of the case.

“The jury's decision reflects the community's commitment to three important pillars of a civil society - the rule of law, the respect for the sanctity of life, and the obligation of the police force to serve and protect,” he said.

John Ruszczyk addresses the media in Minneapolis, after a jury found former police officer Mohamed Noor guilty of murder in the third degree and manslaughter. (AP/AAP)

“We believe this guilty verdict strengthens those pillars. We hope this will be a catalyst for further change.

“We would like to note that we believe the conviction was reached despite the active resistance of a number of Minneapolis officers including the head of their union and either active resistance or gross incompetence of the BCA - particularly at the beginning of the investigation.”

Ms Ruszczyk’s fiance Don Damond echoed the sentiments.

“Nearly two years ago my fiance, Justine Damond Ruszczyk, was shot dead in her pyjamas outside our home without warning as she walked up to a police car which she had summoned,” he said.

“Ironically the Minneapolis Police Department emblem on the squad door reads: ‘To protect with courage and to serve with compassion’.

“Where were these values that night? That night there was a tragic lapse of care and complete disregard for the sanctity of life. The evidence in this case clearly showed an egregious failure of the Minneapolis Police Department.”

Noor testified that a loud bang on his squad car made him fearful, and he fired when he saw a woman appear who was raising her arm. He said he fired to protect his partner’s life.

His partner, Officer Matthew Harrity, had fear in his eyes, yelled "Oh Jesus!" and went for his gun but had difficulty pulling it out of the holster.

Justine Ruszczyk was shot dead in this alleyway in Minneapolis. (AAP)

Noor believed he had to make a split decision and said he pressed his left arm over Officer Harrity's chest to protect his partner before he fired a single bullet through the open window striking Ms Ruszczyk.

"My intent was to stop the threat and save my partner's life," Noor told the downtown Minneapolis courtroom on Thursday.

Prosecutors attacked Noor for shooting without seeing a weapon or Ruszczyk’s hands and questioned whether the loud bang was real.

Justine Ruszczyk Damond, victim of a "tragic lapse of care and disrgard for the sanctity of life".

Ms Ruszczyk, originally from Sydney, was barefoot, had pyjama pants on and a pink t-shirt with 'Koala Australia' written on the front and a picture of a koala mum with a baby koala when she was killed.

A jury of 10 men and two women got the case Monday afternoon after three weeks of testimony. They were sequestered.

Noor was fired after he was charged.