Deliberations

Both sides gave closing arguments in the Mohamed Noor trial yesterday and the case went to the jury. Deliberations continue this morning. 

The defense claimed a "perfect storm" of circumstances that led to the split-second decision to shoot Justine Damond. Prosecutors attacked Noor's and the MPD's credibility and asserted that Noor's reaction to the situation was reckless and unreasonable. I think both sides made good points over the course of the trial.

Reading the judge's instructions to the jury, at first blush it appears that the prosecution made a strong case on each of the elements of all three charges. However, those instructions also include a section on "AUTHORIZED USE 0F DEADLY FORCE BY PEACE OFFICERS." I think the key element there will be this:

To determine if the actions of the peace officer were reasonable, you must look at those facts known to the officer at the precise moment he acted with force. Giving due regard for the pressures faced by peace officers, you must decide whether the officer’s actions were objectively reasonable in the light of the totality of the facts and circumstances confronting the officer, without regard to the officer’s own state of mind, intention or motivation.

And the key factor there, in my opinion, is whether the jury believes the defense claim that Damond startled the officers with a noise and suddenly appeared at the driver's window, or believes the prosecutor's claim that police made that up after the fact. Noor's fate will probably hinge on that.

Update: I no sooner post this and it is announced that the jury has already reached a verdict. We will hear it at 4:30 Central.