Brandt Jean, the younger brother of Botham Jean who was murdered in his Dallas apartment by former Dallas cop Amber Guyger, was honored for forgiving and hugging his brother’s killer in the courtroom.
On Tuesday, Brandt Jean, 18, was bestowed the Ethical Courage Award from the The Institute for Law Enforcement Administration in Plano, Texas, a suburb of Dallas.
Gregory Smith, director of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, cited Brandt’s ethics and integrity as reasons for recognizing him.
“Brandt Jean represents the best in us,” Smith said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “Despite an unimaginable loss, he saw the humanity in the person responsible for his brother’s death. He saw her pain and regret, and had the ability to show empathy, caring and forgiveness.”
According to CNN, Brandt was initially hesitant to accept the award. But during the sentencing phase of the murder trial in which Guyger was found guilty, Brandt Jean showed no hesitation in telling Guyger he loved her and that he didn’t even want her to serve her 10-year prison sentence. This shocked and angered many urban Americans.
“If you truly are sorry – I know I can speak for myself – I forgive you,” Brandt Jean, who still resides in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia, told Guyger. “And I know if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you,” he said at the time of sentencing.
Flip the page to find out why Brandt Jean was initially apprehensive about accepting such an award.
