Horner's Defense Begins in Athena Strand Murder Trial

0:00It's April 22nd. Dallas News Today starts now. AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Defense lawyers kick off their side of the story Wednesday morning in the Tanner Horner trial for the murder of seven-year-old Athena Strand. Horner already pleaded guilty to Capitol murder during a kidnapping back on April 7th. Now the jury gets to pick between life in prison with no parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors wrapped up strong last Thursday, rolling out some tough video and audio clips, showing Athena's final moments inside that FedEx van, where... Horner worked. Horner tried pinning the killing on some alter ego, he calls zero. During talks with investigators, the whole thing's hitting hard and fort-worth, stirring up pain for Athena's family and the community's still reeling from losing such a young kid. The defense starts with Horner's mom on the stand, followed by psychiatric experts to argue he's not death penalty material. They're pushing hard for that life sentence without a shot at freedom. Tries rolling on at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center

1:01and should wrap into early May, so stay tuned as this punishment phase plays out.