Botham Jean’s family has received an award of nearly $100 million in the civil trial against former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger.
Jurors found that Guyger acted with malice or was reckless in fatally shooting Botham Jean in 2018.
She opened fire at the unarmed 26-year-old Saint Lucia national, claiming that she mistook his apartment for hers and believed he was a burglar.
The $98.6 million award in the wrongful death civil suit includes about $60 million in punitive damages and $38.6 million in compensatory damages.
“I am still heartbroken over the loss of my son,” Fox News quoted Bertram Jean, Botham’s father, saying.
“Today I think justice was served, and we are very thankful, and we pray it will be a lesson for the authorities.”
Botham’s mother, Allison, said: “It’s been tiring for me flying back to St. Lucia to Dallas so many times, but today’s verdict really gives me some consolation that you saw the value of Botham.
“Even though he is not with us, this verdict tells us that his light still shines down on us in America and in Saint Lucia and all over the world,” Attorney Benjamin Crump told reporters regarding Botham.
Amber Guyger, who was in uniform when she fatally shot Botham Jean, was subsequently fired from the Dallas Police Department, found guilty of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
She was up for parole but it has been denied.
The former Dallas police officer, although named as a defendant, did not appear in court for the wrongful death suit.
Photo: Botham Jean’s parents and attorneys.
