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The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

SMU Juniors Jaisan Avery and Kayla Spears paint together during Curlchella hosted by SMU Fro, Dallas Texas, Wednesday April 17, 2024 (©2024/Mikaila Neverson/SMU).
SMU Fro's Curlchella recap
Mikaila Neverson, News Editor • April 23, 2024
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Sentencing Hearing underway in Guyger Trial

Mugshot+of+Amber+Guyger+Photo+credit%3A+Dallas+County+Sheriffs+Department
Mugshot of Amber Guyger Photo credit: Dallas County Sheriff’s Department

This story was written by Ally Campbell and Maddie Noble.

Former police officer’s mother took the witness stand Wednesday morning in the sentencing part of trial.

Karen Guyger said her daughter was so emotional she could not understand her when she shot Botham Jean.

Guyger was found guilty of murdering Botham Jean in his home on September 6th, 2018. Guyger fatally wounded Botham Jean, 26, when she mistakenly entered his apartment thinking it was her own. Guyger lived exactly one floor below Jean.

Guyger turned herself in on September 9th, 2018 and was charged with manslaughter. Over a year later her trial began on September 23rd of this year. For 7 days, the jurors reviewed video footage, witness testimonies, and heard the 911 call.

Guyger was convicted of murder on Wednesday, October 1st, after the jury deliberated for 5 hours. Guyger could be sentenced to between five to 99 years.

Wednesday Judge Tammy Kemp gave permission for the jury to consider “sudden passion of defense” which can reduce Amber Guyger’s sentence to two to 20 years.

Also on the stand today Botham Jean’s dad ,Bertrum, who cried during his testimony.

“How could this happen to our family, how could we have — how could it be possible? I’ll never see him again, and I still want to see him. It’s hard,” Bertrum Jean said.

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