While in God’s courtroom no sin is unforgivable, our worldly justice system does not operate on such terms. Particularly when it comes to an act as violent as murder, it’s hard for us to imagine it being pardonable—especially when the victim was your very own flesh and blood.
But the brother of Botham Jean is showing the world a new way with an unfathomable act of mercy that he displayed for his sibling’s killer, former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger. Botham was fatally shot in 2018 while eating ice cream in his own apartment after Guyger mistook his place for her own and misidentified him as an intruder.
Though Guyger faced a prison term of up to 99 years, she was given a sentence of only 10 years on Wednesday. Many were outraged at the lack of justice for Botham, a 26-year-old accountant from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.
Chants of “no justice, no peace” rang out loudly outside the Dallas courtroom. Thousands bemoaned the gross injustice of such a light sentence for the former cop, as the outcome would likely not be the same if the racial tables were turned.
Chants of “no justice, no peace” outside the Dallas courtroom where Amber Guyger was just sentenced to 10 years for the murder of Botham Jean.
— Syeda Hasan (@syedareports) October 2, 2019
But while the masses lashed out in rage and sorrow, Botham’s brother, Brandt Jean, reacted with a display of grace and compassion that has shocked the nation.
“If you truly are sorry, I can speak for myself, I forgive and I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you,” said the 18-year-old as he took the witness stand.
