Teen offers moment of grace and hope for Amber Guyger

Victim impact statements are not just stylized Hollywood creations; they’re opportunities for those who have been hurt by crime to face those who inflicted those crimes on them or their families.

Several of these were read aloud Wednesday before the sentencing for Amber Guyger, a 31-year-old former Dallas police officer who was found guilty Tuesday and sentenced to 10 years for the murder of Botham Jean, 26, in September 2018. Guyger and Jean lived one floor apart in a large apartment complex mere blocks from police headquarters.

The sprawling complex, formerly a Sears Roebuck building, is a tangle of cold hallways that all look similar, and Guyger mistakenly got on the floor above her apartment after working a 13.5-hour shift. Obviously distracted, when she got to where her apartment was — but a floor higher — the door was apparently ajar. In a moment of panic she drew her service weapon, entered the apartment, and in a deadly instant saw Jean, thought he was an intruder, and fired. He died shortly thereafter.

The victim statement given by Jean’s 18-year-old brother Brandt was a remarkable moment.

“I don’t want to … say it twice or for the 100th time, what you’ve, or how much you’ve taken from us. I think you know that. But I just … I hope you go to God with all, with all the guilt, all the bad things you may have done in the past, each and every one of us may have done something that we’re not supposed to do.

“If you truly are sorry, I know, I can speak for myself, I forgive you. And I know if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you … and I don’t think anyone can say it … again, I’m speaking for myself … not even on behalf of my family but I love you just like anyone else … And I’m not gonna say I hope you rot and die just like my brother did but I, I personally want the best for you …

“And I, I wasn’t gonna 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 what, that’s exactly what Botham would want you to do. And the best would be … give your life to Christ. I’m not gonna 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 paused, and looked to his left at Judge Tammy Kemp.

“I don’t know if this is possible but can I give her a hug please? Please?”

A stunned Kemp mutters “Yeah.”

Brandt rises from the stand and walks toward Guyger, who meets him, an officer behind, and practically throws herself into the embrace that lasts for 40 seconds of healing. Guyger, Kemp and the courtroom erupts in sobs.

One cannot watch this exchange and not be awed by the grace of the slain man’s brother, who is only 18, and moved by the sadness in the courtroom.

Guyger seemed remorseful, or at least cognizant of the damage done, when she testified that she wished she had been the one killed in the incident.

But in those brief moments of a sorrowful embrace emerged a bit of hope, that Amber Guyger will find her redemption, too.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2VcLmrx