Jurors were provided specific instructions Monday to guide them as they deliberated each of the three felony counts filed against former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor in the shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond.
Here is a summary of the instructions for each count explaining what the 12 jurors needed to find beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict Noor. Deliberations ended Tuesday with convictions on third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and acquittal on second-degree murder.
• For a second-degree murder conviction, jurors needed to conclude in total:
Noor "acted with the intent to kill" Damond, meaning he "acted with purpose of causing the death or believed the act would have that result."
Intent can be proven by more than just direct evidence but can also be "inferred from all the circumstances surrounding the event." Premeditation was not needed for a guilty verdict on this count.
• For a third-degree murder conviction, jurors needed to conclude in total:
Noor caused Damond's death "by perpetuating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind" without regard for life but also without intent to kill and was committed in a "reckless or wanton" manner understanding that someone may be killed. It need not be proven that Noor actions were "specifically directed at the particular person whose death occurred" but he knew his actions carried out with "a heedless disregard" could kill someone.
• For a second-degree manslaughter conviction, jurors needed to conclude in total: