Testimony resumes Wednesday in the murder trial of former MPD officer Mohammed Noor, a day after questions were raised in court whether officers were trying to protect one of their own.
Noor is facing murder and manslaughter charges for shooting Justine Ruszczyk Damond in July 2017 after the unarmed woman called 911 to report a possible sexual assault near the home where she lived in south Minneapolis.
In testimony Tuesday, it was revealed incident commander Sgt. Shannon Barnette turned her body camera off when talking to Noor, while other officers arriving at the scene told Noor to stay quiet.
Prosecutors say they needed to convene a grand jury to compell testimony after many officers refused to provide statements following the shooting.
"These are extremely troublesome things," said Phil Turner, a defense attorney and former federal prosecutor in Chicago who is not connected to the case. "They're law enforcement officers and they are supposed to enforce the law equally, whether someone is a sworn law enforcement officer or not."
Minneapolis police union president Lt. Bob Kroll, who is listed as a possible witness, told The Associated Press he could not comment. But in an interview with the Star Tribune, Kroll dismissed the idea that officers were withholding information.
"That's an easy sweeping statement to make and without some concrete hard evidence, which they won't find in this case," Kroll said.
Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder said there are many checks and balances to hold police officers accountable. The department requires officers to immediately report any police misconduct, including unreasonable force.
"This profession is monitored and the oversight has never been higher," he said.
On the night of the shooting, Noor was in the passenger's seat of the Minneapolis police squad car, and fired his weapon through the driver's side door, the bullet striking Damon in the lower left abdomen and lodging in her spine
Noor's partner that night, Matthew Harrity, may testify as early as Wednesday.
Noor pleaded not guilty because of self-defense, the defense saying the former officer heard a loud bang on the squad car and feared an ambush.
Prosecutors say there's no evidence that deadly force was justified.
The trial in the Hennepin County government center began last week.