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Source: WFAA
Judge on Botham Jean Murder Trial Under Fire For Hugging Amber Guyger
Judge Tammy Kemp came down from the bench, spoke with Guyger, gave her a Bible, and hugged her.
On Wednesday, October 2nd, ex-Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the shooting death of Botham Jean. Emotions were high.
According to reports, there was a mixture of boos and cheers outside of the courtroom.
Inside of the courtroom, Botham's brother Brandt Jean hugged and forgave Guyger, saying:
I'm not going to say I hope you rot and die, just like my brother — I personally want the best for you...I wasn't going to 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.
READ: A Manipulation Of Black Innocence: Botham Jean & How Black People Are Wrong Even When They're Not
Then something strange happened: Judge Tammy Kemp came down from the bench, spoke and then embraced some of Jean's family members. She then spoke with Guyger, gave her a Bible, and hugged her also.
\u201cMoments after Brandt Jean said he forgave Amber Guyger for killing his brother Botham Jean, Judge Tammy Kemp emerged from her chambers to give Gugyer a Bible. "You just need a tiny mustard seed of faith,\u201d the judge said. \u201cYou start with this.\u201d More: https://t.co/hm1VSFp9Tv\u201d— WFAA (@WFAA) 1570071807
The gesture had a highly divisive reaction on social media:
None— t3tr1s-c12c13 (@t3tr1s-c12c13) 1570108561
\u201cDoes Judge Kemp hug everyone she\u2019s sentenced to prison or just Amber Guyger? Unless that\u2019s how she treats everyone, and I doubt that it is, then the hug strikes me as inappropriate and unprofessional. Why does Guyger, a heinous murderer, deserve a nice hug from her judge?\u201d— Tour\u00e9 (@Tour\u00e9) 1570066927
\u201cNeed Judge Tammy Kemp to hug every defendant after a murder conviction now. After ever conviction period. Black and brown defendants need to feel that love too at their lowest moments.\u201d— Eddie (@Eddie) 1570057793
\u201cAmber Guyger murdered Botham Jean.\n\nThe jury gave her 10 years.\n\nThe judge hugged her. \n\nThe victim\u2019s brother hugged her. \n\nA police officer in court brushed her hair. \n\nThe Message: White women\u2019s lives are valuable. Black men\u2019s lives are not.\n\nhttps://t.co/TuxMzhheRm\u201d— Keith Boykin (@Keith Boykin) 1570056556
READ: Ex-Cop Amber Guyger Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for the Shooting Death of Botham Jean
Jean's parents had a more complicated reaction to Guyger's sentence. Bertrum Jean, the father of Botham Jean, said he wanted a more severe sentence for Guyger. But, also added that he agreed with Brandt about forgiving her, saying "I don’t want to see her rot in hell. I don’t want to see her rot in prison.”
In an interview with CBS News, Botham's mother, Allison Jean, said about Brandt forgiving her: "What he did today, was remarkable, and he did it all on his own...What Brandt did was to cleanse his heart towards Amber … I do not want it to be misconstrued as a complete forgiveness of everybody."
In another interview, she also called out police corruption.
\u201cBotham Jeans mother calling out police corruption. You won\u2019t spin this into so Black forgiveness story. \n\n\u201d— George M Johnson (Gar\u00e7on) (@George M Johnson (Gar\u00e7on)) 1570108617
