The younger brother of Botham Jean, a black American man who was shot and killed by ex-cop Amber Guyger when she thought he was an intruder in her apartment, told Guyger he forgave her, asked her to give her life to Jesus Christ and later asked the judge if he could hug her.
“I wasn’t ever going to say this in front of my family or anyone, but 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 you to do. And the best would be to give your life to Christ. I’m not going to say anything else. I think giving your life to Christ would be the best thing that Botham would want you to do. Again, I love you as a person and I don’t wish anything bad on you,” Brandt Jean said in court where the former Dallas police officer was sentenced by a jury to 10 years in prison on Wednesday.
After several moments fighting emotions, Brandt asked the judge if he could hug Guyger, and the two embraced as many people in the court were heard openly weeping.
Judge Tammy Kemp also hugged Guyger and gave her a personal Bible whispering to her, “Ma’am, it’s not because I am good. It’s because I believe in Christ. None of us are worthy. Forgive yourself.”
The judge thereafter told the Jean family, “Thank you for the way you modeled Christ. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Guyger, 31, was found guilty of murder on Tuesday for fatally shooting Botham Jean, her 26-year-old unarmed neighbor, in his apartment on Sept. 6, 2018, after she allegedly mistook it for her own.
BREAKING: In stunning moment, Botham Jean's brother embraces Amber Guyger after her sentencing for his brother's murder.
"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." https://t.co/sWaPUtS0kj pic.twitter.com/xPAIKQLh6z
— ABC News (@ABC) October 2, 2019
