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Ex-cop who killed neighbor in his own home found guilty of murder
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What we know about Amber Guyger's guilty verdict
A jury found ex-Dallas police officer Amber Guyger guilty of murder in the death of Botham Jean, her 26-year-old neighbor.
Guyger fatally shot Botham in his own apartment, which she said she mistook for hers.
Here’s what we know about the case:
- The verdict: The jury deliberated less than 24 hours. The jury had two questions for the court this morning before they reached the verdict, according to attorneys for the Jean family. They asked for the definition of manslaughter and for additional information on the so-called castle doctrine — the legal notion that your home is your castle, and you have the right to use lethal force to defend your home and not retreat.
- “Huge victory”: Outside court, S. Lee Merritt, an attorney for Jean’s family, called the rare murder conviction against a police officer a “huge victory” not only for the victim’s family but also “for black people in America.”
- Sentencing hearing: The jury heard from Jean’s mother, who described the day she learned her son had been fatally shot. “My life has not been the same,” she said today in court. “It’s just been like a roller coaster.”
- Possible sentence: With the murder conviction, Guyger, 31, faces up to life in prison.
Guyger's sentencing hearing wraps for the day
The sentencing phase of Amber Guyger’s trial has ended for the day.
The hearing will resume tomorrow morning.
Earlier today: Guyger, a former Dallas police officer, was found guilty of murder in the 2018 fatal shooting of Botham Jean.
Botham Jean's sister: "I want my brother back"
Allisa Charles-Findley, Botham Jean’s sister, testified during Amber Guyger’s sentencing this afternoon.
She put her head in her hands when the prosecutor played two videos of him singing, and she said it’s his voice that makes her miss him.
Findley said she tries to call her family more since Jean’s death to check on her mother, father and little brother.
She shared other memories of her brother while she spoke on the stand: She recalled how her brother would call her in the middle of the night when he was in college so she could order a pizza and send it to his dorm room.
And she talked about how on his birthday, he brought her a TV as a housewarming gift for her new home.
Jean's mother and sister wore his favorite color to court today
Botham Jean’s mother and sister, who testified moments ago during the sentencing phase, wore a special color to court today in honor of him.
They wore Jean’s favorite color — red.
On the stand, his mother Allison Jean talked about how Botham Jean — the middle child — was “the glue” that brought her three children together. She smiled as she was shown photo of her son.
She also described the day she learned her son had been fatally shot.
“I was in New York with my daughter at 12:13 a.m. on September 7th when she came to inform me that she had gotten a call and that somebody told her that Botham was shot, that he died,” she said.
Botham Jean's mother: "It's just been the most terrible time for me"
Botham Jean’s mother Allison Jean is testifying during the sentencing phase of Amber Guyger’s trial.
Guyger earlier today was convicted of murder for Botham Jean’s Sept. 6, 2018, death.
She said she went back to work in January, “but it’s very, very difficult.”
Allison Jean said she’s had to “seek counseling” and she is concerned for her younger son, Brandt. “He doesn’t speak much, so I’m not sure what’s going through his mind,” she said.
Botham Jean's mother takes the stand in sentencing phase of Guyger's trial
The sentencing portion of Amber Guyer’s trial is underway. Earlier today, the former Dallas police officer was found guilty of murder in the death of Botham Jean, her 26-year-old neighbor.
Prosecutors just called their first witness in the sentencing, Jean’s mother.
Guyger faces up to life in prison.
Jean family lawyer: This verdict is for "so many unarmed black and brown human beings"
After Amber Guyger was found guilty of murder, lawyers for Botham Jean’s family spoke outside the courtroom.
S. Lee Merritt called the rare murder conviction against a police officer a “huge victory” not only for the victim’s family but also “for black people in America.”
“It’s a signal that the tide is going to change here,” he told reporters. “Police officers are going to be held accountable for their actions and we believe that will begin to change policing culture all over the world.”
Another family attorney, Benjamin Crump, cited the names of numerous unarmed African-Americans who have died at the hands of police.
What happens now: The case heads into its sentencing phase. Guyger, 31, now faces up to life in prison.
Court will resume at 2 p.m. ET
The court will likely hear from witnesses this afternoon before Amber Guyger’s sentencing. Court will resume at 2 p.m. ET.
Earlier today: Guyger, the former Dallas cop who fatally shot Botham Jean in his own apartment last year, was found guilty of murder.
With the murder conviction, Guyger, 31, now faces up to life in prison.
The jury deliberated for less than a day
A Dallas jury moments ago found former police officer Amber Guyger guilty of murder for fatally shooting her unarmed neighbor, Botham Jean.
The jury deliberated less than 24 hours. The verdict followed a trial that has captured national attention and sparked outrage.
The jury had two questions for the court this morning before they reached the verdict, according to attorneys for the Jean family:
- Jurors asked for the definition of manslaughter.
- They also asked for additional information on the so-called castle doctrine — the legal notion that your home is your castle, and you have the right to use lethal force to defend your home and not retreat.
Attorney for the Jean family: "Botham did not deserve to die. His family deserved justice"
Attorney S. Lee Merritt, who represents Botham Jean’s family, reacted on Twitter following the guilty verdict.
Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger entered Jean’s apartment, which she said she mistook for hers, and fatally shot him as he watched TV on the couch. Guyger was found guilty of murder earlier today.
Amber Guyger faces life in prison
Ex-Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was just found guilty of murder for the killing of Botham Jean, her unarmed, 26-year-old black neighbor.
The murder conviction carries a sentence of up to life in prison.
Here's how Botham Jean's family reacted when the guilty verdict was announced
Botham Jean’s mother threw both arms up in the air upon hearing the guilty verdict. Another woman started to shout in praise, but the bailiff quickly chastised her.
Multiple members of Jean’s family broke out sobbing and hugged members of the prosecution team.
Meanwhile, Amber Guyger’s mother broke down crying.
After the judge started dismissed the room and the doors opened, people in the hallway began clapping and cheering loudly. Other members of the public were crying on benches in hallway.
There were shouts of “Guilty! Guilty!” and “black lives matter” from those in the hallway.
Amber Guyger found guilty of murder
A jury has found former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger guilty of murder after less than 24 hours of deliberation.
Guyger was indicted last year after fatally shooting her unarmed neighbor, Botham Jean, in his apartment, which she said she mistook as hers.
Jurors were given the option of finding Guyger guilty of the lesser offense of manslaughter. With the murder conviction, Guyger, 31, now faces up to life in prison.
The verdict follows a case that has captured national attention and sparked outrage.
Guyger, who is white, testified she parked on the wrong floor of the Dallas apartment complex where she lived on September 6, 2018. She then walked to the apartment directly above hers – which belonged to Jean, who was black—and fired when she encountered Jean.
The jury has reached a verdict
An attorney for the family of Botham Jean, S. Lee Merritt, tweeted a few minutes ago that the verdict is in.
The jury began deliberating Monday
The jury began deliberating in the murder trial of former police officer Amber Guyger on Monday.
The jury was instructed to decide whether Guyger is guilty of first-degree murder. If found not guilty, the jury should then consider a lesser charge of manslaughter.
The defense also rested its case Monday in Guyger’s trial for killing Botham Jean in his Dallas apartment in 2018.
What you need to know about the trial of Amber Guyger
A verdict is expected soon in the trial of Amber Guyger, a former Dallas police officer who is charged with killing an unarmed 26-year-old man in his own apartment.
Jurors began deliberating on Monday after closing arguments wrapped.
Here’s what we know about the trial:
- The charge: Guyger is accused of entering the apartment of 26-year-old Botham Jean last year and fatally shooting him as he watched TV on the couch, Jason Hermus, a Dallas County prosecutor, told jurors.
- Guyger testified at her trial: She broke down on the witness stand Friday, saying she believed she had entered her own home and thought the man she encountered was going to kill her. Guyger, who testified in her own defense, said: “I hate that I have to live with this every single day of my life.”
- She texted her partner after the shooting: While she was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher, Guyger sent two text messages to her partner on the force — whom prosecutors said she was intimate with — one at 10:02 p.m. saying, “I need you … hurry,” and another a minute later saying, “I f***ed up,” according to the testimony. Prosecutors argued that she did not render adequate aid nor did she use the first aid supplies in her work bag. Guyger said she performed first aid on Jean, an affidavit said.
- Body camera footage was played: Video showed police trying to save Jean’s life as he lay bleeding from a gunshot wound on the floor. The video was played without the jury in a discussion of evidentiary matters. But it sent Jean’s parents, Allison and Bertrum, as well as other family and friends walking out of the courtroom.
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