Grand Jury Goes Home After Hearing Evidence in Botham Jean’s Death (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)
A Dallas County jury continued to hear evidence Wednesday against a Dallas police officer who shot and killed a 26-year-old accountant in his own home in September, according to an official with knowledge of the case.
But the grand jury apparently went home for the night without announcing any indictment Wednesday. The next day the grand jury will convene will be on Friday.
The grand jury began hearing the prosecution’s case Monday against 30-year-old Amber Guyger, who was arrested on a manslaughter charge Sept. 9, three days after killing Botham Jean. She told authorities that she mistook his apartment for hers on the night of Sept. 6 and thought he was a burglar.
After hearing the argument from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, the grand jury could do one of three things. They could either choose to indict Guyger on the manslaughter charge, indict her on a more serious charge, such as murder, or choose to not indict her on any charge (no bill) if they felt the evidence didn’t support the accusation.
Grand jury hearings are held in secret and there are no cameras or recording devices allowed inside, so the public doesn’t know what was presented.
“We want them to get this process right,” Jean family attorney Daryl Washington told reporters Monday. “The eyes and the ears of the world are on Dallas, Texas right now and we know if a young man can be lawfully in his apartment complex, not committing a penal offense, and this officer is not indicted on murder, that’s going to be really problematic for the whole process.”
Jean’s family has filed a lawsuit against Guyger and the city of Dallas in the shooting.
Article originally published on Nov 28, 2018, on nbcdfw.com
