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Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was convicted of murder Tuesday in the killing of Botham Jean after a controversial trial that invoked race, police misconduct and legal definitions of self-defense.
Depite expectations that it would take longer, a jury voted to convict after prosecutors convinced them that the Sept. 6, 2018 shooting was not accidental, but an incident in which Guyger deliberately opened fire before properly assessing the situation. The 31-year-old ex-cop has maintained that after a tiring shift, she simply went to the wrong apartment in her residential complex, one floor above her own, believing it was hers and thought Jean, 26, was an intruder.
Jurors returned to deliberations after the verdict was read to determine what her sentence will be. She now faces life in prison, although appeals are expected.
Despite that, prosecutors argued that firing at Jean was not necessary because he was never a threat. During closing arguments, prosecutor Jason Fine told jurors to imagine the incident from Jean’s perspective — simply coming home to eat a bowl of ice cream when a stranger shoots at him.
Guyger’s defense argued that the Castle Doctrine — which allows for self-defense in one’s own home — applies in her case because she thought she was in her apartment. But Fine countered that Guyer should have seen some obvious indicators: the apartment sign; the red door mat; an electronic indicator that rejected her key, and that she was walking onto carpet from concrete.
“I mean, my God. This is crazy,” Fine said. “It was unreasonable — she should’ve known she was in the wrong apartment.”
The hallway outside the courtroom erupted in cheers after the verdict was read, according to The Dallas Morning News. Botham Jean’s mother, Allison, walked out of the courtroom saying simply “God is good. Trust him.”
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated
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