Botham Jean’s brother says Amber Guyger ‘still deserves love’ after courtroom hug
The brother of the black man murdered by white Dallas cop Amber Guyger says he hugged her at her sentencing Thursday because she “still deserves love.”
Brandt Jean made headlines when he asked a Texas judge if he could embrace his brother’s killer before she was sentenced to 10 years behind bars — telling “Good Morning America” on Friday that words of forgiveness were not enough.
“That was just my gesture, my decision of letting her know that I truly forgive her,” Jean said.
“She still deserves love. She made a mistake that she probably truly regrets so if you want to forgive her, just understand that God forgave you,” he said. “I waited one year to hear ‘I’m sorry’ and I’m grateful for that.”
The incredible act of compassion went viral after Jean, who was reading a victim impact statement in the Texas courtroom, broke off and asked Judge Tammy Kemp if he could hug Guyger.
“I don’t know if this is possible, but can I give her a hug, please? Please?” Jean asked Kemp.
When the judge gave him the OK, Jean got off the stand and walked toward Guyger, who leaped up from the defense table and rushed to hug him.
The two clutched each other in an emotional embrace lasting more than a minute — Guyger loudly sobbing into Jean’s shoulder.
The 31-year-old former cop was sentenced to 10 years in prison for fatally shooting her black neighbor Botham Jean, 26, after she entered his apartment — mistaking it for her apartment on the floor below.
On the stand, Jean told the court he didn’t want his brother’s killer to do any time.
“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 do,” he said.