Brandt Jean, the brother of Botham Jean murdered by Amber Guyger, exemplified the Christian virtue of forgiveness in an emotional courtroom statement.
“Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” – Ephesians 4:32
On Tuesday, former Dallas police offer Amber Guyger was found guilty of murder and convicted to ten years in prison after shooting Botham Jean in his apartment.
After the sentencing, family members of Botham Jean were allowed to give victim’ impact statements. His brother, Brandt Jean, delivered a heartfelt and emotional statement that has shown many what true, Christian forgiveness means.
Brandt began saying “I hope you go to God” to ask Him for forgiveness, before saying he forgave her himself: “I forgive you and I know if you go to God and ask him he will forgive you.”
Brandt expressed his love for her as a person, and wished not anything bad on her, but the best for her – even saying he doesn’t believe she should go to jail.
“I love you just like anyone else and I’m not gonna say I hope you rot and die just like my brother did, but I see I personally want the best for you. I don’t even want you to go to jail.”
Then Brandt did something that shocked everyone in the courtroom – even the judge. He told Guyger the best thing she could do would be to “give your life to Christ,” and asked for permission to hug her. The two embraced for nearly a minute, and later the judge also hugged Guyger and gave her a Bible telling her to forgive herself.
“I think giving your life to Christ would be the best thing that Botham would want you to do. Again I love you as a person, I don’t wish anything bad on you. I don’t know if this is possible but can I give her a hug please, please.”
Bishop Edward Burns of the Diocese of Dallas called his statement an “incredible example of Christian love and forgiveness.”
“What an incredible example of Christian love and forgiveness we witnessed during the victim impact statement as Botham Jean’s brother, Brandt, forgave Amber Guyger, encouraged her to turn her life over to Christ and gave her a hug. He said it is what Botham would’ve wanted. I pray we can all follow the example of this outstanding young man. Let us pray for peace in our community and around the world.”
Watch the courtroom footage below where Brandt Jean delivers his emotional statement and hugs Amber Guyger:
“I don’t want to say twice or for the hundredth time what you’ve or how much you’ve taken from us. I think you know that, but I just I hope you go to God with all what all the guilt all I think the bad things you may have done in the past each and every one of us may have done something that we’re not supposed to do. If you truly are sorry I know I can speak for myself, I – I forgive you and I know if you go to God and ask him he will forgive you. And I don’t think anyone could said again, I’m speaking for myself not even bad for my family, but I love you just like anyone else and I’m not gonna say I hope you rot and die just like my brother did, but I see I personally want the best for you. And I wasn’t gonna ever say this in front of my family or anyone but I don’t even want you to go to jail I want the best for you because I know that’s what that’s exactly what Botham would want you to do and the best would be give your life to Christ. I’m not gonna say anything else I think giving your life to Christ would be the best thing that Botham would want you to do. Again I love you as a person, I don’t wish anything bad on you. I don’t know if this is possible but can I give her a hug? Please, please.”
