Day 2 Testimony in Amber Guyger Murder Trial Focuses on Body Camera Video and Guyger’s 911 Call

Live Blog/Daily Recaps:
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

The second day of testimony in the murder trial for former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, who is charged in the shooting death of her neighbor Botham Jean, began Tuesday. Jurors heard Guyger's 911 call following the shooting and watched the body camera video from a responding Dallas police officer.

Prosecutors played Guyger's 5 minute, 38 second 911 call in court Tuesday. On the call, Guyger is frantic, saying, "I thought it was my apartment" 19 times. She can also be heard telling a then-unresponsive Botham Jean, "I'm sorry."

From the time Guyger made the call to the moment officers arrived at Jean's apartment, just over two minutes elapsed.

The body camera video of responding Dallas police officer Michael Lee was also played in court. Lee and his partner can be seen jumping walls and running upstairs, not yet knowing there was not an active shooter.

Sr. Cpl. Dale Richardson explains how the key fobs at South Side Flats are designed to work. The fobs, when put in a lock, turn a light red or green -- green when it unlocks the door and red when it doesn't. There has been some question as to how Amber Guyger entered Botham Jean's apartment -- and whether or not the door malfunctioned, was unlocked or was open.

Local

The latest news from around North Texas.

Fort Worth 26 mins ago

Oklahoma man detained on Caribbean island for carrying ammo, family struggles to cope

Forney 48 mins ago

‘No idea where he is': Search continues for missing man in Forney

When they reach Jean's apartment, they briefly encounter Guyger who said again, "I thought it was my apartment." The two officers then begin graphic, intense resuscitation efforts on Jean, which continued until Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedics arrived. At one point, seconds after arriving, Lee's partner can be heard saying, "he's breathing." Lee testified Jean had a pulse, but was unresponsive.

Prosecutors then asked Lee about police policy and procedure.

"If you open a door and realize someone's inside, you have two choices, presume you can safely re-position or shoot and figure it out later, what do you,' Assistant District Attorney Jason Hermus asked.

Jurors in the Amber Guyger murder trial Tuesday heard and saw the moments after the former Dallas police officer shot Botham Jean as the day's evidence included Guyger's 911 call and police body cam video.

"Cover and conceal," Lee said.

"Because of sanctity of human life?" Hermus asked.

"Yes," Lee responded.

Controversy arose Tuesday when prosecutors alleged Guyger received special treatment following the shooting. The defense objected to the showing of video they said captured Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata instructing Dallas police Sgt. Breanna Valentine to turn off the in-car recording system inside the patrol car that would transport Guyger.

After a lunch recess, the video was not shown to jurors.

However, prosecutors played Valentine's body camera video which they said shows Guyger texting on her cell phone in the hallway while paramedics performed CPR on Jean in his apartment.

Prosecutors also showed video of investigators using Guyger's key fob on the wrong door, similar to what would've happened the night of the shooting. In the re-enactment, the key wouldn't turn, driving home the prosecution's point that Guyger should have known she was at the wrong apartment.

Witness Joshua Brown choked up on the witness stand Tuesday as he relived the night former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger fatally shot Botham Jean.

In opening arguments, defense attorney Robert Rogers said the metal portion of Jean's door was defectively installed, which caused it to bow out when it's humid. Jean's door, he said, closed, but didn't latch.

Three of Jean's neighbors also took the stand and testified they never heard Guyger yell commands for Jean to show his hands.

Judge Tammy Kemp called a brief recess when neighbor Joshua Brown grew emotional after he recalled hearing Jean sing gospel music and Drake every morning.

Afternoon testimony continued with Texas Ranger David Armstrong, who was one of the Rangers that investigated the shooting and ultimately recommended a charge of manslaughter in the case.

Armstrong testified about the electronic lock audit reports for both Jean and Guyger's apartments and confirmed for prosecutors when the doors to both apartments were either locked or unlocked on the day of the shooting.

Armstrong said the audit report did not contain any information about when an incorrect key was placed in the lock.

Before the conclusion of testimony on Tuesday, Armstrong confirmed for prosecutors that "continuation of life" comes second to "crime scene integrity" when officers respond to a call and need to treat an injured person. This was established to explain how or why some items were seen in different places between when the officers first entered the apartment compared to when investigators went in.

Jurors saw never-before-seen body cam video on Day 2 of Amber Guyger's murder trial.

Tuesday's Testimony

Audio from the 911 phone call placed by former Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger after she shot Botham Jean was played for jurors at her murder trial on Tuesday. Warning: viewer discretion is advised.

Karla Rivera, the 911 call operator who took Amber Guyger's call on Sept. 6, 2018, testifies, Sept. 24, 2019.

Sgt. Stephen Williams oversees the Dallas Police Department's body cam program. During testimony in the Amber Guyger murder trial Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, Williams testified about the protocols for use and the quality one could expect from the cameras chosen by the department.

Dallas Police Officer Michael Lee, one of the officer's who responded to the shooting call and provided CPR to Botham Jean, said "cover and conceal" is the recommended procedure for officers who believe an unauthorized person is inside a residence or building to ensure the safety of both the officer and the person inside. Once backup arrives, officers can then enter the room.

On Tuesday, prosecutors alleged Amber Guyger received special treatment following the shooting. The defense objected to the showing of video they said captured Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata instructing Dallas police Sgt. Breanna Valentine to turn off the in-car recording system inside the patrol car that would transport Guyger.

Sr. Cpl. Dale Richardson provided testimony Tuesday in the Amber Guyger murder trial discussing the key fobs used in the electronic locks at the South Side Flats apartments as well as the time cards filled out by Dallas police officers and why there sometimes may be a discrepancy between when an officer leaves and what the time is noted on their time card.

Dallas Fire-Rescue's John Fairleigh recalls shooting victim Bothem Jean as having no pulse and not breathing when the arrived at his apartment Sept. 6, 2018. Fairleigh said Jean's condition did not improve on the way to the hospital.

Hollie Gibralter is a real estate manager who oversaw six properties around Dallas-Fort Worth in September 2018. One of the properties was South Side Flats, where Amber Guyger and Botham Jean lived.

Botham Jean's neighbor Joshua Brown takes the stand in the murder trial of Amber Guyger. Brown became emotional while on the stand and said he often heard Jean signing gospel or Drake songs while walking to or from his apartment.

Former South Side Flats resident Bharath Amarnath Madamanchi, a software engineer, said he remembered hearing gunshots while he was on a Skype call with his father the night Amber Guyger shot Botham Jean.

Ronald Jones, a chemistry teacher and football coach who used to live at South Side Flats takes the stand as a witness during the Amber Guyger murder trial.

David Armstrong, a Texas Ranger in Dallas County, took the stand Tuesday in the Amber Guyger Murder trial. Armstrong investigated the shooting and the locks in the case.