Turnbull demands answers after Australian woman killed in US

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday said his government will be demanding answers from US authorities about the killing of an Australian woman by police in Minneapolis city at the weekend.

On Saturday night, Australian Justine Damond, 40, was shot and killed by Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor after she called 911 for assistance in relation to a suspected assault near her home, Xinhua news agency reported.

She was unarmed and approached the police vehicle in her pyjamas. On Wednesday, speaking on Australian television, Turnbull said the government would pursue answers after something "clearly" went "tragically wrong".

"We are seeking answers to this, this is a shocking killing. It's inexplicable and out hearts go out to her family," Turnbull told the Nine Network.

"How can a woman out in the street in her pyjamas seeking assistance from the police be shot like that? It is a shocking killing and yes, we are demanding answers on behalf of her family. It's a truly tragic killing in Minneapolis."

Turnbull's demands came after it was revealed that the officer who shot Damond had only been with the local police force for two years and there were also previous complaints about his service.

Around 300 of Damond's friends and family members attended a silent vigil at Freshwater Beach in Sydney. Damond's fiance Don said that her family had been given "almost no additional information regarding what happened" after police arrived.

"We've lost the dearest of people and we're desperate for information," he said in Minneapolis.

--IANS

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