DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF)- About 4,000 Dallas citizens were summoned for jury selection for the murder trial of Amber Guyger, a former Dallas cop charged in the shooting death of Botham Jean. The first phase of jury selection began Friday. Attorney Daryl Washington represents jean’s family and is keeping them updated.
“The family is on pins and needles right now….it’s the anniversary of Botham’s death and they’re in St. Lucia” said Washington.
Guyger’s attorneys requested a change of venue for the trial claiming bias in Dallas County but that won’t be decided until after jury selection.
Another attorney representing the Jean family, Lee Merritt says he was impressed with the jury pool turnout. “We’ve seen more people that I’ve ever seen in response to jury duty…there were lines wrapped around the courtroom and that’s a promising thing,” said Merritt.
Washington and Merritt believe the judge can select a fair and impartial jury given the overwhelming number of people for the start of the selection process
“We believe Dallas County is the right venue for the trial, it’s where the incident took place and it affects the people in Dallas,” said Washington. “With the amount of people here today there’s no way a judge won’t be able to select a fair and impartial jury,” said Washington.
Guyger has admitted she shot and killed Jean last year after she says she mistakenly went into the wrong apartment.
Guyger was off-duty but still in uniform when the incident happened. She lived one floor below jean
