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U.S. NEWS Monday 23 SepteMber 2019
Ex-cop's murder trial for

shooting neighbor set to start

By JAKE BLEIBERG apartment complex's ga- ternatives were selected
Associated Press rage — rather than the to hear the case earlier this
DALLAS (AP) — Last Sep- third floor, where she lived month. The racial makeup
tember, a white police — and found the apart- of the jury hasn't yet been
officer shot and killed an ment's door ajar, accord- made public although
unarmed black man in his ing to an affidavit. both lawyers said who is on
own apartment. That much Three days after the shoot- the jury will be crucial. In this Sept. 13, 2019 file photo, fired Dallas police Officer Amber
is settled. ing, Guyger was arrested "There are going to be Guyger, right, arrives for jury selection in her murder trial at the
But nearly every other for manslaughter. She was some people who, I think, Frank Crowley Courthouse in downtown Dallas.
aspect Amber Guyger's subsequently fired from the will feel natural sympathy Associated Press
murder trial for the killing Dallas police department to a police officer," said
of Botham Jean remains and charged by a grand Helms. "And there are other "to make a national state- pulled the trigger caus-
cloaked in controversy as jury with murder. people who will have a ter- ment." ing the death of another,"
opening statements in the Jean's family and other crit- rible mistrust of people who Mata, a sergeant, called Mata said. "Well isn't that
case are set to start Mon- ics have questioned why are in law enforcement." Jean's death a "very tragic the definition of every po-
day. Guyger was not taken into The head of an organiza- accident" but said Guyger's lice shooting?" But even
For some, the shooting custody immediately after tion that represents Dal- prosecution has many of- within the ranks of Dallas
was a tragic accident with the shooting and whether las police said he hopes ficers worried that they'll police, Guyger's case has
circumstances that can race factored into her use all parts of the city will re- face criminal charges if sparked disagreement.
only be described as "very of deadly force. In January, spect the jury's verdict. But they use fatal force to de- Terrance Hopkins, president
unique." Others place it in a judge issued a gag order Dallas Police Officers As- fend themselves or others. of the Black Police Associa-
pattern of white officers kill- barring attorneys in the sociation President Mike "They charged Officer tion of Greater Dallas, said
ing black men that, they case from speaking about Mata said he's nervous that Guyger with murder be- he's quick to correct peo-
say, points to systemic it publicly. outside "antagonizers" will cause they say she know- ple who call Jean's death a
problems in American po- Because of the shooting, use Guyger's case to try ingly and intentionally police shooting.q
licing. Dallas residents of color feel
A jury will ultimately have to "they can no longer be safe
reach consensus on wheth- even in their living rooms,"
er Guyger committed mur- said imam Omar Suleiman,
der, a lesser offense or no a leader with interfaith
crime at all. On the eve of group Faith Forward Dallas.
trial, one of the only points Some city residents expect
of agreement about her Guyger will not face legal
case in Dallas is that it has punishment and are pre-
the potential to profoundly paring to respond, he said,
affect the relationship be- "That's very dangerous,"
tween police and residents. Suleiman said. "If the com-
Dr. Brian Williams, the for- munity sees her walk free
mer head of the city's po- without any repercussions
lice oversight board, called it's not just going to be your
the trial a "flashpoint" that ordinary protest."
could significantly bolster Legal experts say getting a
or deeply damage public murder conviction will be
confidence in the police. difficult in Guyger's case.
"This is an opportunity for Heath Harris, a defense
Dallas to show that there lawyer and former First
is a way of handling these Assistant District Attor-
complicated and contro- ney in Dallas County, said
versial issues of police use Guyger's attorneys are like-
of force against minor- ly to argue that she acted
ity citizens in a way that is in self-defense because
fair and transparent and she believed she was in her
assures accountability for own home. The case may
law enforcement," Williams well hang on whether the
said. jury thinks that was a rea-
Guyger, 31, was off duty sonable mistake.
but still in uniform when If the jury believes Guyger
she shot Jean. She told made a sincere error, then
investigators that after a that means the shooting
15-hour shift she confused wasn't murder, said John
Jean's apartment with her Helms, a Dallas defense
own, which was directly attorney and former fed-
below his, and mistook the eral prosecutor. But they
26-year-old accountant could still find her guilty of
from the Caribbean island manslaughter or criminally
nation of St. Lucia for a bur- negligent homicide, which
glar. can also come with heavy
Guyger said she parked sentences, he said.
on the fourth floor of her Twelve jurors and four al-