'What this guilty verdict may at least show is there are some lines even white police officers can't cross when killing unarmed black people.' The truly surprising Amber Guyger verdict | By JillFilipovic for CNNOpinion
Jill Filipovic is a journalist based in Washington and author of the book"The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness." Follow her on Twitter. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely her own. View more opinion articles on CNN.
The Amber Guyger verdict is in, and the former Dallas cop who killed an unarmed black man -- her neighbor -- in his own home was found guilty of murder. Jurors rejected a lesser charge of manslaughter. She faces between five and 99 years in prison. Jill FilipovicThe facts of this case are as stunning as the verdict . In September 2018, Guyger walked into the home of 26-year-old Botham Jean and shot him to death. Guyger says she was distracted, believed the apartment was hers, and thought Jean was an intruder. Jean, an accountant, was having a quiet night at home, and had just prepared himself a bowl of ice cream.
Judge in disbelief after DA breaks rule in Amber Guyger trial 00:56Guyger's case illustrates just how barbaric stand your ground laws are. As a police officer, she's trained to use a gun -- and yet she intentionally shot to kill . Even if it had been her apartment, is that the desired outcome? The facts of the case also call into question Guyger's own professed anguish over her actions. She testified, weeping:"I ask God for forgiveness and I hate myself every single day.
Contradicting stories in deadly police shooting 02:19What this guilty verdict may at least show is there are some lines even white police officers can't cross when killing unarmed black people. Of course: it's complicated.
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