STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Amber Guyger’s Murder Conviction Upheld In Botham Jean Case

The former police officer fatally shot the 26-year-old in his own home.

According to The Dallas Morning News, her murder conviction, which resulted in a 10-year prison sentence, was upheld by Texas’ highest criminal court. Out of the nine-member court, two judges filed a disent.

The Dallas Morning News also reports Guyger has more than likely exhausted all possibilities to appeal her conviction and sentence.

In September of 2018, Guyger entered Jean’s apartment in Dallas, Texas and shot him to death while he was eating ice cream on his couch. During her trial, she testified that she thought she had entered her own apartment in the complex where they both lived, and therefore “had the right to act in deadly force.”

RELATED: White Cop Who Murdered Botham Jean Shared Kaepernick Meme That Said ‘The NFL Died Of Colin Cancer’

They claim Guyger was confused about where she was in her apartment complex since both the third and fourth floors where her and Jean’s apartments were located look identical.

"Her mistaken belief negated the culpability for murder because although she intentionally and knowingly caused Jean's death, she had the right to act in deadly force in self-defense since her belief that deadly force was immediately necessary was reasonable under the circumstances," the appeal read.

Guyger had both a taser and pepper spray on her along with the gun she used to kill Jean. Her lawyers argued that officers are not trained to use non-lethal weapons “when faced with a deadly situation.”

"Despite the tragic consequences, considering all the evidence — whether admissible or inadmissible ... Guyger acted reasonably," the appeal read, claiming Guyger "simply missed" the clues she was entering the wrong apartment.

During the trial, Guyger’s attorneys claimed that Jean’s death happened due to the “malfunction” on his door and the “absurd design” and “incompetent management” of the apartment building.

Guyger has been in prison since October of 2019.

Guyger’s lawyers and Botham Jean’s family have not released a statement about the conviction being upheld.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.