The court said there was insufficient evidence to uphold the sentence and ordered that he be convicted of his second-degree homicide conviction.
Mary Moriarty, the former Hennepin County Public Defender, said she does not believe the decision will affect Chauvin’s case because his conviction for second-degree murder has not been reversed. Chauvin was only convicted on the most serious charge of second-degree murder, according to state sentencing guidelines.
Noor was sentenced in June 2019 to 12 and a half years in prison.
The 33-year-old Somali American was convicted in April of that year on charges of homicide and third-degree homicide on the death of Ruszczyk in 2017, who had moved from his native Australia to Minneapolis by live with your fiancé.
CNN has asked for comments from Mohammed Noor and Ruszczyk’s family lawyers, as well as Hennepin County’s law firm.
At Noor’s trial, his lawyer argued that a “perfect storm” of events caused him to open fire on Ruszczyk on the night of July 15, 2017, when he called 911 to report a possible ongoing assault on an alley. behind his Minneapolis home.
Noor stated that he feared for his partner’s life as Ruszczyk approached his team’s car in the dark, empty alley. But Hennepin County prosecutors said Noor overreacted and was unable to properly assess the situation before firing a shot at Ruszczyk’s abdomen.
Ruszczyk’s death drew widespread attention in the United States and his native Australia.
This is a story in development and will be updated.