Video After The Jump
DALLAS, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – State District Judge Tammy Kemp gave Amber Guyger a bible, hugged her and prayed with the former police officer, now convicted of murder after sentencing her to ten years in prison.
The moment caught many in the courtroom off guard, but in a positive way.
It was an emotional day of testimony, outbursts and one very moving victim impact statement at the Frank Crowley Courts Building.
A jury sentenced former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, who was convicted of murdering her neighbor, Botham Shem Jean in his own home to ten years in prison.
A crowd outside of the courtroom started screaming even before the decision was read. Judge Tammy Kemp asked bailiffs to tell them to “cut that out.”
Jean’s family sat silently after the sentence was read, and looked “shell-shocked,” according to CBS 11 Producer Kelsey Mittauer, who covered the trial.
Supporters of the Jean family started screaming outside the hallway, “No justice, no peace!” Civil rights groups and activists outside the courtroom told CBS 11 News that the sentence is insufficient.
Eventually the Jean family met with jurors in the hallway.
Not long after, Botham’s younger Brandt delivered a heart-felt victim impact statement, telling Guyger, “I forgive you. I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you. I love you just like anyone else. I am not going to say I hope you die just like my brother did… I personally want the best for you. I don’t even want you to go to jail… because that’s exactly what Botham would want to. Again I love you, as a person.”
He then asked if it was OK for him to hug Guyger. So he did.
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