A US police officer has been found guilty of murdering an unarmed Australian woman.
Mohamed Noor shot Australian life coach Justine Ruszczyk Damond in July 2017, after she approached his squad car just minutes after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her house.
He was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Prosecutors argued there was no reasonable threat, and questioned whether the supposed bang on the squad car was invented.
However, Noor's lawyers argued that he was justified in using deadly force to protect himself and partner Matthew Harrity from a perceived threat.
Testifying in court, Noor said he felt he had no other choice but to shoot in the moments after a "loud bang" on his squad car made him fear a possible ambush. He said he saw a woman raising her arm and feared she could have had a weapon.
"I had to make a split-second decision," Noor testified. "My intent was to stop the threat and save my partner's life."
However, on Wednesday (NZ time) the jury found him guilty of third degree murder and guilty on second-degree manslaughter. He was found not guilty of second degree murder.
Reuters / Newshub.
