Justine Ruszczyk's family has reached a $ 20 million settlement with the city of Minneapolis

Former Minneapolis police officer, Mohamed Noor, was convicted of third degree murder and manslaughter during the murder of Justine Ruszczyk, in July 2017, who had called 911 to report a possible aggression in the alley behind his home.

Frey announced the regulation in a press conference on Friday. Of the $ 20 million, $ 18 million will go to the Ruszczyk family and $ 2 million will go to a secure community fund at the Minneapolis Foundation, Frey said.

"This has required good faith negotiations on the part of all, as well as frank discussions between my clients, the mayor, the city's attorney, representatives of the city council, the chief of police," he said. said Bennett.

He added that Ruszczyk's family "would agree to settle this case only if the amount of the settlement itself was transformative", which is a mandate for reform within the police department.

"This is an indisputable message that aims to change the Minneapolis Police Department to help all of its communities," said Bennett, adding that since Ruszczyk's death, many "changes positive "had occurred in the direction of the city, including the mayor and the mayor. of the police.

On the basis of mediation, Bennett said, Ruszczyk's family believes the change will continue. "But if that is not the case," said the lawyer, "the $ 20 million settlement serves as a marker for future transgressions."

The conviction of Noor, an American of Somali origin, raised questions about the role played by sex and race in the case – and the settlement raised more eyebrows.

At the press conference on Friday, Bennett dismissed questions about whether race had played a role in the size of the regulation, telling reporters, "I do not think that is the case".

"I think that Mohamed Noor's actions were terrible and unjustified, unconstitutional and criminal," he said.