Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was ordered by a jury to pay $98 million to the family of Botham Jean after using excessive force in his fatal shooting six years ago. The civil verdict came five years after Guyger was convicted of murder and sentenced to prison for the killing of Jean in his own home.
The jury found that Guyger acted with malice and indifference to Jean’s safety, awarding $60 million in punitive damages and $38 million in compensatory damages for mental anguish and loss of earnings. Despite not attending the trial or having legal representation, Guyger maintained her innocence and claimed she mistakenly entered Jean’s apartment, believing it was her own.
Jean’s family, who had sought $54 million in damages, called the verdict a powerful testament to Botham’s life and a step toward addressing racial bias and police accountability. They described Guyger’s actions as excessive and unreasonable, emphasizing the need for law enforcement officers to face consequences for their actions.
The incident, which occurred when Guyger returned home after a long shift and mistakenly entered Jean’s apartment, led to a confrontation where Guyger fatally shot Jean as he sat in his living room eating ice cream. Guyger expressed remorse at her criminal trial, stating that she never intended to harm an innocent person and was acting out of fear, not hate. Jean, a Black man, was mistakenly perceived as a threat by Guyger, who is white.
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