Botham Jean's Brother Criticized For Hugging Amber Guyger In Courtroom

BY Erika Marie 3.9K Views
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Botham Jean's Family
The judge also consoled Guyger.

Wednesday marked the conclusion of Amber Guyger's murder trial after she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In September 2018, the former Dallas police officer had just finished a 13-hour shift when she walked into the home of 26-year-old Botham Jean and shot him dead. Guyger contended that she was exhausted and believed that the apartment was her own, so when she stumbled upon Botham, she believed he was an intruder and killed him.

The case became a staple in headlines as commentators and celebrity figures offered up their predictions about Guyger's fate. After the world learned of her sentence, there were those that immediately took to social media to express their displeasure, however, it was Botham Jean's brother's actions in the courtroom that ignited conversations about forgiveness.

Immediately following the announcement of Guyger's sentence, Brandt Jean walked over to the disgraced officer, hugged her, and told her, "I love you just like anyone else and I'm not going to hope you rot and die. I personally want the best for you. I wasn't going to say this in front of my family, I don't even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you because I know that's exactly what Botham would want for you. Give your life to Christ. I think giving your life to Christ is the best thing Botham would want for you."

The judge in the case also left her seat at the bench, walked over to Guyger, embraced her, and gifted her with her personal Bible. The stunning moments unsurprisingly garnered thousands of reactions on social media, as opinions were split on how Guyger was handled in her final courtroom moments. Read a few of the mixed responses below.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.