CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- An Anderson County jury will decide whether or not a Chattanooga man convicted of first degree murder Tuesday will be sentenced to death.
That jury must decide whether or not Andre Grier will be sentenced to death, after convicting him of murder in the 2016 killing of Bianca Horton in Chattanooga.
The prosecution says they believe the killing of Horton meets several aggravating circumstances.
Andre Grier was convicted on five charges including first degree murder.
Prosecutors argued that he, along with other members of the Athens Park Bloods gang, murdered Horton to prevent her from testifying in a separate case.
Since the jury convicted Grier, they now have to decide whether or not he will be sentenced to death.
The jury could also select to sentence Grier to life with or without parole.
The prosecution argues that her murder meets three different aggravating circumstances required in the state of Tennessee.
These circumstances the prosecution argues are the killing of a witness to avoid prosecution, the commission of another felony, which was kidnapping that Grier was convicted on in this case, and the heinous nature of the crime.
Prosecutor Collin Campbell said, “One aggravating circumstance, if just one and one alone. If proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If you find that one aggravating circumstance alone outweighs any mitigating circumstance, then the law requires a verdict that you shall return a verdict of death, it’s imperative.”
A relative of Bianca Horton, who we cannot identify due to a court order, said that for Horton’s four children are “Doing the best they can… Their mother’s death serves as motivation for them.”
They added that they take comfort in “She is with God now… I have to be good with that.”
Hamilton County Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Cogswell was brought to the stand, as took the jury back through the wounds to Horton caused by six gunshots and other blunt force trauma injuries.
He testified that the totality of these injuries were extreme.
Dr. Cogswell testified, “These are certainly above and beyond the necessity to cause death.”
Meanwhile, the defense is arguing that Grier should be spared the death penalty due to a rough childhood, to only instead give him a life sentence with or without parole.
Multiple relatives, who we also cannot identify due to a court order, testified that Grier’s mother was abusive, often leaving Grier to fend for himself during his youth following the death of his grandmother at the age of 13.
One testified that Grier’s mother exposed him and his siblings to drug use and other illegal activities, and would often fail to ensure their basic needs were met.
They all asked the jury not to sentence Grier to death, one person testified, “He’s not that person. Please show him mercy and spare his life.”
Defense Attorney Clinton Frazier said, “You’re going to hear about the tragedy he suffered when his grandmother died, when she killed in a wreck. It was at that pivotal stage, that stage when you find out…One of the most pivotal stages when you are 13 years old.”
We expect the jury to begin deliberating the sentence in this case on Wednesday, after each side present a closing argument in this sentencing phase.
We will be in the courtroom on Wednesday, providing updates
