Things have taken a turn in the Texas murder trial of Botham Jean.
According to a local CBS affiliate, the judge presiding over the case has ruled that the jury can consider a law similar to Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law when determining if Amber Guyger is guilty of killing the unarmed black man in Dallas. The law in question is called the Castle Doctrine. It allows a person to use "force (even deadly force) in the protection of a home, vehicle, or other property if someone attempts to forcibly enter or remove an individual from the premises."
Judge Tammy Kemp's ruling came on the last day of the trial with the closing arguments beginning at 11 a.m. local time. Judge Kemp also said the jury can consider manslaughter when sentencing Guyger.
Amber Guyger is a former Dallas police officer who is on trial for killing Botham Jean in his own apartment. Per Guyger, she mistook Jean's fourth-floor apartment for own which was the floor below. When she opened the door she thought Jean was a burglar and shot him. Her attorney is hoping the jury deems her use of force "reasonable." If they do, it's possible she will be acquitted of the crime under the guidelines of the Castle Doctrine.
