Botham Jean’s mother says his life was more valuable than the 10-year sentence his killer received

Allison Jean said she respected the jury’s decision to sentence the former Dallas police officer who killed her son, Botham, to 10 years in prison

But his life was “more valuable than 10 years,” she said Thursday.

Jurors this week found Amber Guyger, 31, guilty of murder for fatally shooting Botham Jean, 26, in his Dallas apartment in 2018.

Guyger said she mistakenly entered Jean’s apartment, which was one floor above hers, and thought she saw an intruder. Prosecutors said she missed numerous signs that she was on the wrong floor and apartment and was more concerned with her own life and career than the dying Jean.

She faced up to life in prison. Dallas prosecutors had urged the jury to chose at least 28 years.

She wanted a conviction and was pleased Guyger was convicted, Allison Jean said on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper Full Circle.”

“My son was much more valuable than 10 years. But there’s nothing that I could do about it.”

Jean, who lives in St. Lucia, appeared on the show with her attorney, S. Lee Merritt. She spoke about her younger son’s act of forgiveness and decision to hug Guyger in the courtroom Wednesday. Guyger’s sentence would give her time to reflect on what she did and an opportunity to leave prison a changed woman if she wants to, Jean said.

Guyger will first be eligible for parole in five years.

Merritt, who represents Jean’s family in their civil case, wrote on Twitter the 10-year sentence “isn’t ‘nothing’ but it isn’t enough.”

“I think it sends a message to America how people are treated, how victims are treated,” Jean said.

‘I really felt Botham’s presence’

After Guyger was sentenced, Botham’s 18-year-old brother, Brandt, said he forgave her and didn’t want her to go to prison.

“I love you just like anyone else,” he said. “I’m not going to say I hope you rot and die, just like my brother did. … I personally want the best for you.”

He then asked District Judge Tammy Kemp if he could hug Guyger.

Allison Jean said her son had insisted he wanted to give a victim impact statement and she and her husband, Bertrum, agreed.

“Brandt has been very closed ever since Botham’s death. He spoke very little,” she said. “So, I saw it as an opportunity to express himself. I didn’t know what he was going to say. So, I was very shocked when he did that.”

Jean said her children were raised in the church. “We are people of faith, all the principles that we practice are principles of love, forgiveness, honesty,” she said.

“And Brandt just demonstrated to the world, I would say, all the teachings that he’s had from the time he’s been born,” she said.

Her son, Botham, was forgiving and Brandt displayed what she believes Botham would have also done, she said.

“I found that he took tremendous courage to display what he did to his brother’s killer, and in the way that he did it,” Jean said.

“When I saw Brandt up there and what he was saying, I really felt Botham’s presence in the room,” she said.