Jury Selection Continues In Former DPD Cop Amber Guyger's Murder Trial
DALLAS, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - Jury selection continues in the murder trial of fired Dallas police officer Amber Guyger.
Hundreds of people showed up to court Friday for a possible juror assignment in the case against Guyger.
In 2018, Guyger shot and killed Dallas accountant Botham Jean in his own southside apartment.
She claimed Jean was an intruder in her apartment when she shot and killed him. Guyger's apartment was a floor above Jeans.
Race, gender and politics are all factors in the trial, according to veteran criminal defense attorney, Barry Sorrels.
"By her own account, she intended to kill this man," said Sorrels.
Sorrels provided analysis of the jury selection process happening now for Guyger.
"That's what it's going to be all about. Trying to get answers, and looking for people that don't fit the profile that you want to serve on the jury," said Sorrels.
Lawyers on both sides are now examining hundreds of questionnaires completed by the jury pool.
Sorrels said he believes prosecutors and defense attorneys are using jury consultants to examine those who may exhibit strong support or strong opposition to police. Both sides want jurors who demonstrate a tendency to support their side.
"I'm sure prosecutors have jury consultants in this case, and the defense has jury consultants, and both sides want the same," explained Sorrels. "They want the most biased juror they can put in the the jury box who will vote in the state's favor or the defense favor. No one likes saying that, bit that's the truth."
Sorrels said the eventual jury won't have to decide if Guyger killed Jean. They will have to decide if she needed to shoot him because of what she believed, or she committed murder because she shot him intentionally -- and didn't have to.
The jury is expected to be seated by Friday.