Justice Served? Or Justice Overlooked? Whats The True Price Of Lost Life?

Justice Served? Or Justice Overlooked? What is the true price of lost Life? Research and detailed report of criminal justice Lyshanay Tatum University’s name On the 6th of September 2018 Thursday Botham Jean, a man aged 26 was fatally shot in his apartment by a former Dallas police officer, named Amber Guyger. They lived in the same apartment building. In that building, Jean’s apartment was one floor directly above Guyger’s. This case is known as the ‘Wrong flat case’ simply because Amber Guyger shot a man who she assumed had entered her home and invaded her privacy, but it was her who mistakenly entered the wrong apartment. At the time of the crime, Amber Guyger had just returned from a long work shift and was still in uniform, on the other hand, Botham Jean was at his apartment unarmed and unaware of his fate. Two shots were fired at the victim; one missed while the other one hit him in his chest and led to his death. After a year, the trial for Amber Guyger began and had lasted more than a week. Testimonies were heard from the neighbors and officers responding to the crime. The defense stated that it was reasonable for Amber Guyger to go to the wrong apartment since it was a perplex eyeing apartment complex. But, the prosecution was putting up a tough fight, saying that she is a police officer and should have been observant. She did not pay attention to her surroundings, even though, there was a red mat that said welcome in front of the victim's apartment door. Ultimately, the jury sided with the prosecution, at this point. The defense also brought up the castle doctrine that allows the deadly use of force by civilians on their property against intruders, they argued that she thought she was on her own property. But then again, the prosecution stated that the castle doctrine doesn’t grind in this case because Amber Guyger was not on her property and the victim was not an intruder. The prosecution also brought into notice that Amber Guyger was trained in CPR. She was carrying a first aid kit and she only did one-handed compressions of CPR and then left to check what apartment she was in. The prosecution stressed the fact that she could have done more because she had the knowledge and the resources. This was something that resonated with the jury. The prosecution had some solid points that the jury could not comprehend. After hearing the case from both sides, the jury had an overnight discussion on their deliberations and concluded with two options. Firstly, manslaughter that had a 20-year sentence and secondly guilty of murder. The jury, later on, found Amber Guyger guilty of murder and is now facing life in prison. 

  The incident sparked national outcry amid a string of fatal police shootings of unarmed black men. Questions were being raised as to whether justice would be served to the family of a black person or the justice would favor the white as repeatedly done in history. Over the years, there have been several shootings that have killed black unarmed people by white policemen and it is distressing to say that less than only one percent of them got justice. This case brought hope back to so many people who have not gotten justice. Although no verdict balances the scales of what Jean’s family has suffered and lost, this semblance of justice is both rare and necessary. The jury’s decision will have a positive effect on society, and the minorities will start having confidence in the justice system, making it even stronger. The true price of the life gone astray in the case and the ones lost over eternity of years cannot be named but it is innocuous to say that justice was served in this case.

Works Cited

BIBLIOGRAPHY Aguilera, J. (n.d.). The Former Police Officer Who Shot And Killed Botham Jean is on Trial. Here's What To Know About Amber Guyger's Case. Times .

King, S. (109). Guilty Verdict Against Amber Guyger Gives the Family of Botham Jean the Justice They Deserve. The intercept .

The murder of Botham Jean . (2019). Wikipedia.