10-11-2019, 09:10 AM
Thanks for the update on the Amber Guyger trial Duchess.
I think the jury was smart in this case. They seemed to understand that Guyger was guilty of second degree murderer, as opposed to the lesser charge of manslaughter, because she purposely aimed and shot Botham Jean (rather than the gun mistakenly going off or some other negligent act directly resulting in death). She intended to fatally shoot Jean, who was committing no crime and posing no threat to anyone.
However, there was no evidence indicating she intentionally went to Jean's apartment to kill him. In my opinion, the Defense did a good job of demonstrating beyond reasonable doubt that she instead really thought she'd entered her own apartment and encountered a burglar (negligently missing a lot of cues to the contrary) when she shot to death Botham Jean while he was chilling in his own home eating ice cream.
Anyway, the jury found her guilty of the second degree murder charge, but they sentenced her more in line with a manslaughter conviction. The Prosecution proved to them this was a murder case, not a manslaughter case. And, the Defense proved to them that the murder was a result of terrible judgment and mistakes made by off-duty officer Guyger rather than an evil or hate-filled act.
From what I've read, Jean's brother forgives Guyger and said he didn't even want her to do any time in jail because Jesus and Botham Jean would forgive her fatal mistakes. But, the rest of Jean's family, while they agree with the murder conviction, feels the sentence was too light -- 10 years, possible parole in 5 years.
I think the jury was smart in this case. They seemed to understand that Guyger was guilty of second degree murderer, as opposed to the lesser charge of manslaughter, because she purposely aimed and shot Botham Jean (rather than the gun mistakenly going off or some other negligent act directly resulting in death). She intended to fatally shoot Jean, who was committing no crime and posing no threat to anyone.
However, there was no evidence indicating she intentionally went to Jean's apartment to kill him. In my opinion, the Defense did a good job of demonstrating beyond reasonable doubt that she instead really thought she'd entered her own apartment and encountered a burglar (negligently missing a lot of cues to the contrary) when she shot to death Botham Jean while he was chilling in his own home eating ice cream.
Anyway, the jury found her guilty of the second degree murder charge, but they sentenced her more in line with a manslaughter conviction. The Prosecution proved to them this was a murder case, not a manslaughter case. And, the Defense proved to them that the murder was a result of terrible judgment and mistakes made by off-duty officer Guyger rather than an evil or hate-filled act.
From what I've read, Jean's brother forgives Guyger and said he didn't even want her to do any time in jail because Jesus and Botham Jean would forgive her fatal mistakes. But, the rest of Jean's family, while they agree with the murder conviction, feels the sentence was too light -- 10 years, possible parole in 5 years.