A kind-hearted man offering a warm hug to the woman who had just been found guilty of killing his own brother in the courtroom and wishing her luck is a very uncommon sight in the annals of history.
That’s what happened on Wednesday in a courtroom in Dallas. The victim’s brother felt nothing but forgiveness in his heart after hearing about Amber Guyver, the former police officer who shot and killed her neighbor after entering his apartment under the mistaken impression that it was her own.
Guyver accidentally opened Bothan Jean’s apartment door, assuming he was an intruder, and killed him while he was eating ice cream and watching TV inside.
But Brendt, the younger of the two brothers, did not curse Guyver in the courtroom.
Amber Guyver, a convicted felon and former Dallas police officer, is hugged by Botham Jean’s brother Brandt after she was given a 10-year jail sentence on Wednesday. One year ago, Bothnam Jean was enjoying ice cream in his flat when Guyver shot and killed him. She admitted to the police that she believed he was an intruder in her own flat.
He also wished her the best and asked the judge if he could hug the person who killed his brother while he was fighting to hold back tears. Amber Guyver, age 31, was given a 10-year prison term.
“I don’t know if this is possible,” the 18-year-old man said, “but can I give her a hug, please? Please?”
After a short pause, Judge Tammy Kemp said yes.
You can watch Amber Guyver’s full testimony in the video below.
Ms. Guyver and Brandt Jean hugged for almost a minute. Kemp also gave Guyver a hug before she was escorted out of the courtroom.
“If you truly are sorry, I know… I can speak for myself, I forgive you,” he said before the hug. “And I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you.
“Again, I’m speaking for myself, not even on behalf of my family, but I love you, just like anyone else. I’m not going to say I hope you rot and die just like my brother did, but I, personally, want the best for you.”
Cries could be heard throughout the courtroom while the two were hugging and Kemp could be seen wiping her tears off.
“I wasn’t going to ever 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, give your life to Christ. I’m going to say anything else.
“I think giving your life to Christ would be the best thing that Botham would want you to do.”
You can see the emotional turn of events taking place in the courtroom in the video below.
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