A lawyer representing a former Texas police officer who was sentenced to 10 years in prison on October 2 for fatally shooting her upstairs neighbor in his own apartment filed a notice of appeal on her behalf earlier this month.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Michael Mowla filed the notice for Amber Guyger, 31, at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on October 16. Though it is unclear whether the ex-Dallas cop plans to appeal her conviction and sentence, state law mandates that a notice must be filed within 30 days after sentencing, or within 90 days if the defendant intends to file a motion for a new trial.
Guyger was convicted of murder for fatally shooting her upstairs neighbor, Botham Jean, 26, in his own apartment last fall. She claimed she fatally shot Jean in his apartment after mistaking his unit for hers.
The then-officer told police that she had finished a long shift when she parked her car on the fourth floor of her apartment building, instead of on the third floor where she lived.
Guyger said the door was slightly ajar when she placed the key into the keyhole, causing the door to open further. Documents stated that she claimed she saw a “large silhouette” and gave it verbal commands before opening fire, fatally wounding Jean in his torso.
Reports indicated that an appeal could be risky, as Guyger could face a longer prison sentence if the case is appealed and retried.
The Star-Telegraph reported that the notice did not disclose the grounds for Guyger’s appeal.
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[Featured image: Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via AP, Pool]
