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In a heartbreaking second in court docket this Tuesday, a closing picture was launched of 7-year-old Athena Strand who was kidnapped from her driveway in late 2022 and later murdered and dumped close to a river. The discharge of the black-and-white picture captured at the back of a FedEx supply van that confirmed the lady kneeling behind the motive force’s seat coincided with a flip of occasions on the courtroom.
34-year-old Tanner Horner, the motive force answerable for the supply, unexpectedly pleaded responsible to capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping. The plea got here simply as his trial was ready to start, sparing the court docket a prolonged fact-finding section however doing little to ease the emotional weight of the proof introduced.
Horner, who was delivering a field of “You Can Be Something” Barbies to Athena’s rural residence in Paradise, close to Fort Price, claimed he by accident struck her together with his van after which panicked and put her contained in the van, and finally strangled her and left her physique close to a river, Categorical reported.
Nevertheless, judging from the picture, prosecutors imagine Athena Strand wasn’t significantly injured and what Horner did to her was a deliberate resolution, not one made in a state of panic.
Throughout opening statements, Smart County District Legal professional James Stainton informed the court docket the {photograph} confirmed Athena was “very a lot alive and really a lot unhurt” when she was positioned within the truck.
Stainton alleged the primary phrases Horner spoke to her had been: “Don’t scream or I’ll damage you,” repeated twice.
James Stainton informed jurors they might be proven footage from contained in the van and would additionally hear audio recorded after the digicam had been intentionally coated. Stainton mentioned: “You’re going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound baby. And once I say it’s horrible, I imply it.”
He continued: “You’ll be able to’t unhear” the audio, calling it proof of “the extent of cold-heartedness that you just’re going to see.”
He added that Athena fought again, leaving Horner’s DNA underneath her fingernails and “in locations the place you shouldn’t discover DNA on a 7-year-old lady.”
Jurors had been informed Horner appeared composed within the video, at one level whistling as he drove, whereas Athena appeared clearly upset, undermining his account of occasions spiraling uncontrolled.
Choose George Gallagher instructed the jury: “Now your sole responsibility will likely be to take heed to all the proof that’s going to be introduced to you as a result of you may be utilizing that proof to find out the right punishment to be assessed.”
Investigators had been in a position to determine Horner after confirming he had delivered the set of Barbie dolls to the house shortly earlier than Athena vanished. He later led authorities to her physique simply two days after she was reported lacking.
With Horner admitting to the crime, the proceedings have now moved to the sentencing section. The jury is not tasked with figuring out guilt, however the final punishment. They should determine whether or not Horner will likely be sentenced to dying or to a life in jail with out the potential for parole.
Elizabeth “Ashley” Strand, Athena’s stepmother who first reported her lacking, turned emotional on the witness stand, saying her now 14-year-old daughter nonetheless runs and hides on the sight of a supply driver and continues to endure from nightmares.
In line with Court docket TV, Horner’s protection lawyer urged the court docket to indicate mercy, arguing that his shopper was born to an unique dancer who consumed alcohol throughout being pregnant, had struggled with psychological sickness his complete life, and was uncovered to steer as a toddler.
Sentencing proceedings are anticipated to proceed for about two weeks.
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Bored Daddy
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