GUILTY TX - Former Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger, indicted for Murder of Botham Shem Jean #6

[sassyblue]

I hate it when the jury has to hurry up and wait around due to bumbling lawyers being unprepared.

 

[iluvmua]

If I were on the jury I would vote for Manslaughter

 

[Jax49]

Wonder how many more witnesses are scheduled? Trial seems to be moving faster than I expected.

 

[Weki]

I think if they bring up some mental illness the self-defense argument goes out the window. Because mental illness like ADD doesn’t mitigate in the guilt phase. It helps in sentencing but not in determining guilt.

I just heard a defense atty on ABC say the jury will decide punishment also in this case. There will be a penalty phase. Wow.

 

[Jax49]

I think if they bring up some mental illness the self-defense argument goes out the window. Because mental illness like ADD doesn’t mitigate in the guilt phase. It helps in sentencing but not in determining guilt.

I just heard a defense atty on ABC say the jury will decide punishment also in this case. There will be a penalty phase. Wow.

bbm

Wow is right. I'd read they asked for the jury to sentence but didn't know if it was allowed.

ETA: That makes the two week estimate more reasonable.

 

[MsArk]

Looks like Saturday court has been a bust.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

If I were on the jury I would vote for Manslaughter

@iluvmua Why would you vote for manslaughter vs. murder?

 

[Weki]

bbm

Wow is right. I'd read they asked for the jury to sentence but didn't know if it was allowed.

ETA: That makes the two week estimate more reasonable.

Who asked? Defense?

I’ve only heard of penalty phase in death penalty cases.

 

[btfly547]

Does anyone know if the jury is sequestered?

 

[Jax49]

Who asked? Defense?

I’ve only heard of penalty phase in death penalty cases.

Defense and same here. I'm slightly more confused than normal.

ETA

How much prison time does she face, if convicted? If Guyger is convicted, she faces 5-99 years in prison. She and her legal team have asked that her sentence be decided by her jury, if necessary.

The State of Texas vs. Amber Guyger: Frequently Asked Questions

 

[AllyBeeUK]

I think the defence has scored a huge own goal. The string of witnesses testifying that they accidentally wander into each other's apartments does her no favours, quite the opposite IMO. What she should have done was what the rest of the tenants probably did; had a little look around, realised she was in the wrong place, apologised and left. Even if she was in her apartment and there was someone else inside it could have been anyone, the maintenance man, a friend or relative dropped in to surprise her, fire dept checking something out. But no, she goes straight to "I'm in fear for my life, I must shoot to kill." Her defence is ludicrous.

It's easy to excuse her actions by presuming she must have some kind of psychiatric or emotional condition but there is no testimony for this so we must presume that she hasn't.

My dad was a police officer for nearly 40 years, was almost killed more than once. I think I was 4 years old when I realised that every time he went to work might be the last time I saw him. He policed the poll tax riots, the race riots 1981 and many more (if you are not from the UK or not familiar with these events, look it up. It was brutal.) He once didn't come home for 5 days and 5 nights, my mum didn't even know if he was alive. He would come home from the most difficult, soul destroying shifts and lovingly tuck us into bed. Not once have I ever seen him raise so much as his voice in aggression, let alone a weapon. Being a police officer is no defence, in fact IMO it makes it worse.

 

[rosesfromangels]

CBS News has been reporting on the case all morning - getting high level national exposure

 

[Cortne]

If I were on the jury I would vote for Manslaughter

Initially I would have also voted manslaughter. But after the past couple of days, I would now vote for negligent homicide. jmo

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Looks like Saturday court has been a bust.

I got the lawn mowed

 

[Amster]

Does anyone know if the jury is sequestered?

Yes, they are.

 

[rosesfromangels]

@iluvmua Why would you vote for manslaughter vs. murder?

You didn't ask me, but yes....manslaughter.
Then the civil trials.....she will be paying his family for the rest of her life in my opinion. $$$

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[Jax49]

dbm

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Does anyone know if the jury is sequestered?

Yes, they are. I don't know if they will continue to be sequestered after the verdict, before the sentence. Anyone know that?

 

[Jax49]

Back Monday at 9:30...

 

[sassyblue]

DBM