Ex-cop who killed neighbor in his own home found guilty of murder

By Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 6:12 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019
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6:12 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019

What we know about Amber Guyger's guilty verdict

Botham Jean's mother, Allison Jean, raises her arms in the court after former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger is found guilty of murder on Oct. 1, 2019 in Dallas.
Botham Jean's mother, Allison Jean, raises her arms in the court after former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger is found guilty of murder on Oct. 1, 2019 in Dallas. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via AP, Pool)

A jury found ex-Dallas police officer Amber Guyger guilty of murder in the death of Botham Jean, her 26-year-old neighbor.

Guyger fatally shot Botham in his own apartment, which she said she mistook for hers.

Here's what we know about the case:

  • The verdict: The jury deliberated less than 24 hours. The jury had two questions for the court this morning before they reached the verdict, according to attorneys for the Jean family. They asked for the definition of manslaughter and for additional information on the so-called castle doctrine — the legal notion that your home is your castle, and you have the right to use lethal force to defend your home and not retreat.
  • "Huge victory": Outside court, S. Lee Merritt, an attorney for Jean's family, called the rare murder conviction against a police officer a "huge victory" not only for the victim's family but also "for black people in America."
  • Sentencing hearing: The jury heard from Jean's mother, who described the day she learned her son had been fatally shot. "My life has not been the same," she said today in court. "It's just been like a roller coaster."
  • Possible sentence: With the murder conviction, Guyger, 31, faces up to life in prison.
5:38 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019

Guyger's sentencing hearing wraps for the day

The sentencing phase of Amber Guyger's trial has ended for the day.

The hearing will resume tomorrow morning.

Earlier today: Guyger, a former Dallas police officer, was found guilty of murder in the 2018 fatal shooting of Botham Jean.

5:11 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019

Botham Jean's sister: "I want my brother back"

From CNN's Sheena Jones

Allisa Charles-Findley, Botham Jean’s sister, testified during Amber Guyger's sentencing this afternoon.

“I want my brother back,” she said as she watched a video of Botham singing at church.

She put her head in her hands when the prosecutor played two videos of him singing, and she said it’s his voice that makes her miss him. 

Findley said she tries to call her family more since Jean's death to check on her mother, father and little brother.

She shared other memories of her brother while she spoke on the stand: She recalled how her brother would call her in the middle of the night when he was in college so she could order a pizza and send it to his dorm room. 

And she talked about how on his birthday, he brought her a TV as a housewarming gift for her new home.

4:52 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019

Jean's mother and sister wore his favorite color to court today

From CNN's Ashley Killough and Ray Sanchez

Botham Jean's mother and sister, who testified moments ago during the sentencing phase, wore a special color to court today in honor of him.

They wore Jean's favorite color — red.

On the stand, his mother Allison Jean talked about how Botham Jean — the middle child — was "the glue" that brought her three children together. She smiled as she was shown photo of her son.

She also described the day she learned her son had been fatally shot.

"I was in New York with my daughter at 12:13 a.m. on September 7th when she came to inform me that she had gotten a call and that somebody told her that Botham was shot, that he died," she said.

"My life has not been the same," Allison Jean said. "It's just been like a roller coaster."
4:10 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019

Botham Jean's mother: "It's just been the most terrible time for me"

Botham Jean's mother Allison Jean is testifying during the sentencing phase of Amber Guyger's trial.

Guyger earlier today was convicted of murder for Botham Jean's Sept. 6, 2018, death.

“I cannot sleep. I cannot eat. It’s just been the most terrible time for me," Allison Jean said.

She said she went back to work in January, “but it’s very, very difficult."

Allison Jean said she's had to "seek counseling" and she is concerned for her younger son, Brandt. "He doesn’t speak much, so I'm not sure what’s going through his mind," she said.

3:37 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019

Botham Jean's mother takes the stand in sentencing phase of Guyger's trial

The sentencing portion of Amber Guyer's trial is underway. Earlier today, the former Dallas police officer was found guilty of murder in the death of Botham Jean, her 26-year-old neighbor.

Prosecutors just called their first witness in the sentencing, Jean's mother.

Guyger faces up to life in prison.

2:42 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019

Jean family lawyer: This verdict is for "so many unarmed black and brown human beings"

Botham Jean's family (left to right): Bertrum, Brandt, Allison and Alissa Jean.
Botham Jean's family (left to right): Bertrum, Brandt, Allison and Alissa Jean.

After Amber Guyger was found guilty of murder, lawyers for Botham Jean's family spoke outside the courtroom.

S. Lee Merritt called the rare murder conviction against a police officer a "huge victory" not only for the victim's family but also "for black people in America."

"It's a signal that the tide is going to change here," he told reporters. "Police officers are going to be held accountable for their actions and we believe that will begin to change policing culture all over the world."

Another family attorney, Benjamin Crump, cited the names of numerous unarmed African-Americans who have died at the hands of police.

"For so many unarmed black and brown human beings all across America, this verdict is for them," he said.

What happens now: The case heads into its sentencing phase. Guyger, 31, now faces up to life in prison.

1:15 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019

Court will resume at 2 p.m. ET

The court will likely hear from witnesses this afternoon before Amber Guyger's sentencing. Court will resume at 2 p.m. ET.

Earlier today: Guyger, the former Dallas cop who fatally shot Botham Jean in his own apartment last year, was found guilty of murder.

With the murder conviction, Guyger, 31, now faces up to life in prison.

5:47 p.m. ET, October 1, 2019

The jury deliberated for less than a day

From CNN's Ashley Killough

A Dallas jury moments ago found former police officer Amber Guyger guilty of murder for fatally shooting her unarmed neighbor, Botham Jean.

The jury deliberated less than 24 hours. The verdict followed a trial that has captured national attention and sparked outrage.

The jury had two questions for the court this morning before they reached the verdict, according to attorneys for the Jean family:

  • Jurors asked for the definition of manslaughter.
  • They also asked for additional information on the so-called castle doctrine — the legal notion that your home is your castle, and you have the right to use lethal force to defend your home and not retreat.