This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
On October 3, 2019, a Dallas County jury delivered a verdict that brought closure to the family of Botham Jean, a 26-year-old accountant from St. Lucia who was tragically shot and killed by former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger in 2018.
According to his family, Jean had been living in Dallas, where he was careful to avoid encounters with police by wearing Ralph Lauren dress shirts and driving the speed limit.
His father, Bertrum Jean, recalled their Sunday phone calls, during which they would share moments from church services and photos of home-cooked meals.
“My Sundays have been destroyed,” Jean's father told the jury, reflecting on the devastating impact of his son's death.
Ms. Guyger's family also testified, with her mother and sister expressing their regret and a desire to have traded places with Jean.
“She feels bad spending time with her family because he can't be with his,” her sister, Alana Guyger, said.
Prosecutors were pleased with the sentence, with Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot stating, “Personally, I expected perhaps longer, but I respect what they did.”
He urged protesters to look to Jean's family, especially his brother, saying, “If they can see his healing, maybe they can find some of their own.”
At a news conference after the trial, Jean's mother, Allison Jean, said that the family would continue to fight for police accountability, stating, “That 10 years in prison is 10 years for her reflection and for her to change her life. But there is much more to be done by the city of Dallas.”
