Amber Guyger Loses Initial Appeal

Guyger to continue serving 10-year murder sentence; defense can file another appeal

WMAQ_000000029104486_1200x675_1208630851622.jpg
NBC 5 News

The former Dallas police officer convicted of murdering Botham Jean lost her initial appeal Thursday asking for her conviction to be tossed out or to be sentenced on a lesser charge.

Amber Guyger is currently serving a 10-year sentence for murder for killing Jean.

Guyger lived in the same apartment complex, one floor directly below Jean, and she said she mistook him for an intruder when she entered his apartment instead of her own three years ago and fatally shot him, she said, because she feared for her life.

Guyger's lawyers said last year they intended to ask an appeals court to throw out her conviction or be sentenced on a lesser charge of negligent homicide, which her defense continued to assert better represented her actions than murder.

On Thursday, the appeals court issued the ruling upholding the murder conviction.

Guyger and her attorneys will be able to file another appeal.

An attorney for Botham Jean's family said they will be relieved to hear the court's decision and that they're not shocked by the result.

NBC 5 took an in-depth look at the life of Botham Jean and the trial of Amber Guyger in a special digital series Crossroads of Change. Episode 1 is below. Watch the entire series on your TV in our Roku and Apple TV app.

NBC 5 presents a six-part docuseries on the life of Botham Jean, who was shot and killed in his own apartment by off-duty Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger. Part One, titled “Two Distant Strangers,” explores the lives of Jean and Guyger before the shooting, as well as the tragedy that unfolded that night.
Contact Us