The former FedEx driver who was sentenced to death in May for the capital murder of 7-year-old Wise County girl Athena Strand has had his request for a new trial denied.
Tanner Horner’s attorneys filed the motion in Tarrant County on June 4, alleging that widespread media coverage intimidated some key witnesses who refused to testify and made it impossible for the 34-year-old defendant to get a fair trial.
According to law, the judge had until July 20 to rule on the motion. Judge George Gallagher opted not to sign the order for a new trial, meaning the motion was automatically denied, a court spokesperson told the Star-Telegram…