Former Dallas officer who murdered unarmed black man in his apartment is sentenced to 10 years

Amber Guyger, the former Dallas police officer who murdered an unarmed black man in his apartment, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday.

The tragic story seized national headlines, partly because Guyger is white and the victim, 26-year-old Botham Jean, is black.

Guyger was found guilty by unanimous verdict of a jury for the murder on Tuesday.

"Your sentence will begin today," said Judge Tammy Kemp.

Guyger said that she had mistaken Jean's upstairs apartment for hers, and when she entered that she believed him to be an intruder. She shot him twice and killed him.

Jean was an immigrant from the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia, and worked as an accountant.

Guyger was facing up to life in prison. She could have received as few as two years in prison, if the jury had considered her crime an act of "sudden passion."

Prosecutors cited text messages she had sent with racial content during the sentencing phase.

The victim's father, Bertrum Jean, broke down in tears while testifying about his son before the jurors.

"It hurts me every day," Jean said.

"How could we have lost Botham, such a sweet boy? He tried his best to live a good, honest life," he added.

"He loved God. He loved everyone. How could this happen to him?" Jean continued. "Hindsight, what could we have done? My family is brokenhearted."

Here's a local news video about the case:

Ex-Dallas Cop Amber Guyger Found Guilty Of Murdering Her Neighbor | TODAYwww.youtube.com