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The emotional hug between the brother of a murder victim and the police who killed him

2019-10-03T08:56:23.057Z


The jury had just sentenced former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger to 10 years in prison for the murder of Botham Jean. With a broken voice on the witness stand, Brandt Jean ...


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(CNN) - With a broken voice on the witness stand, Brandt Jean turned to the judge and asked to hug the woman who killed his brother.

The jury had just sentenced former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger to 10 years in prison on Wednesday.

"I don't know if this is possible, but can I give you a hug, please," he asked. "Please?"

"Yes," said District Judge Tammy Kemp.

Jean came down from the witness stand and hugged Guyger tightly. He said he didn't want her to go to prison and forgive her.

Guyger fatally shot Botham Jean in his own apartment in 2018. She said she confused the apartment with his and believed he was an intruder. On Tuesday, a Texas jury found her guilty of murder.

In the last two days, the families of Jean and Guyger have testified at the hearing for sentencing.

Before Brandt Jean spoke, prosecutor Jason Hermus whispered and he nodded. The 18-year-old sat in his chair and took a deep breath.

His words were slow and thoughtful.

“I don't want to say again or for the umpteenth time, what, or how much you have taken from us. I think you know it, ”he said. "But I just …"

He paused and settled back.

"If you really feel it - I know I speak for me - I forgive you," he told Guyger.

"And I know that if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you," he said.

"I love you like anyone else," he said. "I will not say that I hope you rot and die, as happened to my brother ... personally I want the best for you."

Like his brother, Brandt grew up in the Church of Christ in St. Lucia, where his family lives. His mother, Allison Jean, gave his three children a middle name taken from the Bible. Botham Jean's middle name was Shem, for a son of Noah. Brandt's middle name is Samuel, by an Old Testament prophet.

"I think offering your life to Christ would be what Botham would want you to do," Brandt Jean said.

"Once again, I love you as a person and I don't want anything bad for you," he told Guyger.

He dried a tear and went down from the witness stand to hug her.

Sobs were heard in the courtroom when the two hugged. Kemp wiped the tears from his eyes.

Sheena Jones of CNN contributed to this report.

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2019-10-03

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