FORT WORTH, Texas — Less than a week after a Tarrant County jury sentenced Tanner Horner to death for the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand, an appeal has been filed on his behalf.
Horner was sentenced to death after 20 days of testimony in the sentencing phase of the trial, which began immediately after he pleaded guilty to the murder of Athena. Jurors heard extensive testimony from both the prosecution and defense before determining his sentence, which state law dictated would either be life in prison or the death penalty, WFAA previously reported.
Horner’s attorney filed the appeal with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest court of criminal jurisdiction in the state…