Former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor is charged with second- and third-degree murder as well as second-degree manslaughter (Kerem Yucel)

Minneapolis (AFP) – Jury selection was completed Monday in the trial of a former police officer who fatally shot an unarmed Australian woman in the US state of Minnesota.

A 12-member jury was picked along with four alternates from an initial pool of 75 people for the trial of Mohamed Noor, who shot Justine Damond in July 2017.

Opening statements were scheduled to begin Tuesday in the closely-watched case, which has provoked outrage nationally and in Damond’s home country. 

Damond, who had moved to the Midwestern city to marry her American fiancee Don Damond, had called police twice to report a possible rape in the dark alley behind her home. 

Noor shot the 40-year-old yoga instructor from inside his police cruiser after she approached the driver’s side window. 

Noor’s partner Matthew Harrity, who was in the driver’s seat, told investigators that they had heard a startling noise just moments before Damond approached. 

Noor was fired from the police force after the incident and charged with second- and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter.

He has pleaded not guilty. 

The prosecution has claimed Noor acted unreasonably — shooting at someone he did not clearly see while his partner was in the line of fire. 

Noor’s attorneys have indicated they plan to mount a self-defense claim, and to argue that Noor acted as he was trained. 

Damond’s shooting enraged many of the victim’s neighbors, who mounted a campaign for police reforms. 

The city’s police chief at the time was forced to resign within days. 

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.