TX - Athena Strand, 8, Abducted & Murdered By FedEx Contract Driver, Tanner Horner, Paradise, 2022 #2

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Just got this in my Alerts.


Sept. 16, 2024

Defense attorneys for Tanner Lynn Horner and prosecutors made their cases Monday for and against moving his capital murder trial outside of Wise County.
[.....]
Dr. Bryan Edelman of Trial Innovations testified about his report on the pre-trial publicity in the case, reviewing 125 news articles published by the Wise County Messenger, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News.

A couple of television news stories were also shared in court that mixed audio and video of memorials for Athena with facts of the case, which Edelman said was particularly impactful in creating bias in potential jurors.
[.....]
RPDO investigator Mike Johnson testified that he came to Wise County to interview residents around the county and found that only about 20 out of 100 would talk to him, and he received four affidavits from people saying Horner could not get a fair trial in the county.

District Attorney James Stainton called Bridgeport Mayor Randy Singleton and Wise County Judge J.D. Clark to testify as elected officials with knowledge of the community that Horner could get a fair trial locally.
[.....]
District Judge Brock Smith said he would try to have a ruling on the motion by the end of the week.



So @PommyMommy - I shall check with you at the end of this week! :)
 
Just got this in my Alerts.


Sept. 16, 2024

Defense attorneys for Tanner Lynn Horner and prosecutors made their cases Monday for and against moving his capital murder trial outside of Wise County.
[.....]
Dr. Bryan Edelman of Trial Innovations testified about his report on the pre-trial publicity in the case, reviewing 125 news articles published by the Wise County Messenger, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News.

A couple of television news stories were also shared in court that mixed audio and video of memorials for Athena with facts of the case, which Edelman said was particularly impactful in creating bias in potential jurors.
[.....]
RPDO investigator Mike Johnson testified that he came to Wise County to interview residents around the county and found that only about 20 out of 100 would talk to him, and he received four affidavits from people saying Horner could not get a fair trial in the county.

District Attorney James Stainton called Bridgeport Mayor Randy Singleton and Wise County Judge J.D. Clark to testify as elected officials with knowledge of the community that Horner could get a fair trial locally.
[.....]
District Judge Brock Smith said he would try to have a ruling on the motion by the end of the week.



So @PommyMommy - I shall check with you at the end of this week! :)
Isn't Edelman the same guy who just testified in Bryan Kohberger's change of venue?
 
@PommyMommy - anything yet updated in the court site? TIA! :)
There have been number of motions and orders in the murder case but no details on what those are and no information about future court date(s). The only MSM I can find is the article you posted above.

Case No. CR24559
CAPITAL MURDER OF PERSON UNDER TEN YOA

09/17/2024MOTION
09/17/2024ORDER
09/17/2024MOTION
09/17/2024ORDER
09/18/2024MOTION
09/19/2024ORDER
09/19/2024ORDER

Case No. CR24558
AGG KIDNAPPING FACILITATE
(no new entries)

https://jail.co.wise.tx.us/PublicAccess/default.aspx
 
SEP 20, 2024
[...]

In an order filed Friday afternoon, Smith granted the change of venue motion and ordered the case be transferred to Tarrant County.

A hearing on the motion was held Monday in 271st District Court in Decatur, and Smith considered the testimony of four witnesses, two for the defense and two for the state, as well as affidavits from local citizens.

[...]
 
SEP 20, 2024
... even though it's more urban and diverse and will contain a more significant collection of opinions toward the criminal justice system, Tarrant County is still not an easy place for defendants, Milner said, especially when it comes to the death penalty. Tarrant County's political makeup has been largely conservative for years.

Technicalities, including who should represent Horner at his trial, have slowed the case. In January, Horner’s attorneys unsuccessfully filed a motion to transfer him from the Wise County Jail to another facility.

A trial date has not been announced.
 

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