Prosecutor: Dallas ex-cop's testimony 'absurd,' 'garbage'

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Prosecutor: Dallas ex-cop's testimony 'absurd,' 'garbage'

By JAKE BLEIBERG
September 30, 2019

DALLAS (AP) — A former Dallas police officer’s claim that she believed she was in her own apartment when she fatally shot a neighbor in his home is absurd, a prosecutor said during closing arguments at her murder trial Monday.

Assistant District Attorney Jason Fine told the jury that Amber Guyger was “an intruder” in Botham Jean’s home when she killed him last September.

Guyger tearfully testified last week that she mistook Jean’s apartment for her own after a long shift. Speaking publicly for the first time about the events of that night, she said she found the door of what she believed was her apartment unlocked and was afraid that someone had broken in. She said she feared for her life and opened fire using her service weapon when a silhouetted figure walked toward her in the dark.

Guyger should have known she was in the wrong apartment, Fine said Monday, calling her claims “absurd” and “garbage.”

Defense attorney Toby Shook said Monday that Guyger made “a series of horrible mistakes” that were entirely understandable. He noted that other residents have also gone to the wrong apartments in that complex.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/c1a934e699054e118ca8c9ecf0fea2d7

[saidsimplesimon]

1. It's the coverup.

Her whole "story" sounds like a drunken sot's tale. I would be disqualified to sit on her jury. The evidence is clear. She was so drunk or on such a power trip that she entered someone's apartment and murdered a man. Is this a death penalty state, Texas?

[safeinOhio]

2. I was disqualified for just that reason.

Was asked if I would buy the story from either side and I told the judge I don't think the police tell the true any more than criminals. They still sent me my jury duty check for $24.

[saidsimplesimon]

3. Good on you, $24 would not cover my parking,

I've been called but never selected to serve.

[Patterson]

7. Is Texas a death penalty state? Is that a joke?

[saidsimplesimon]

9. Sarcasm

[LiberalLovinLug]

4. I don't usually side with the police, but this is quite disturbing

I can totally see her, especially if inebriated, thinking she was on her floor when she wasn't. Especially hearing how, based on how the building and parking levels was built, that other tenants had also gone to the wrong apartments.

And that seeing "her" door open, adrenaline would take over to the point that she wouldn't be looking for what color her door mat was. Also with a bit of liquid courage, and being a trained police officer, and maybe thinking any back up may come too late, she made the decision to handle it on her own.

Then seeing a shadowy figure coming towards her she shot.

I find myself feeling very sorry for her. Not only having to live with killing someone for the rest of her life, but also going to prison for it? Seems like its more a series of unfortunate events.

[safeinOhio]

5. There are many, other wise law abiding ,

folks in jail. Just a couple of drinks and cause a fatal accident. Law enforcement hold great powers, which means they have to be more accountable than others. Negligent homicide at the least.

[Crunchy Frog]

6. I wouldn't feel too bad for her. She'll probably be acquitted.

Thus reinforcing the doctrine that police can shoot anyone at any time for any reason, especially if the victim is black.

So, no prison, and I expect she'll get over having killed an innocent man in his own home pretty quickly once the heat is off her.

She made a hell of a lot of bad decisions, resulting in an innocent man's death, but I don't think there will be any real consequences for her.

[madinmaryland]

8. There is already a job waiting for her at Fox News