Tanner Horner trial nears climax as defence rests its case

A psychologist's explosive testimony reveals Horner's troubled past—but did it sway the jury? The trial's final showdown begins Tuesday.

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2026 May 5 . 4:05 AM

1 min read

The image shows a black and white drawing of a courtroom scene with a man standing in front of a... — The image shows a black and white drawing of a courtroom scene with a man standing in front of a crowd of people, some of whom are sitting on benches and some standing on the floor. The man is holding a gun in his hand and there is text at the bottom of the image. The text reads "The trial of Thomas Jefferson".

Tanner Horner trial nears climax as defence rests its case

The defence in Tanner Horner’s trial concluded its case on Monday morning. Jolie Brams, a forensic psychologist, gave evidence as the final witness before closing arguments were set for Tuesday. The prosecution will now call three rebuttal witnesses to challenge the defence’s claims. Brams spent around 12 hours assessing Horner’s background, including interviews with his family. She described his upbringing as neglectful, which she said affected his development. Her testimony also highlighted Horner’s struggles with adult functioning and signs of developmental immaturity.

Brams clarified that while Horner’s autism and other impairments did not directly cause the crime, they influenced his life circumstances. She testified that these factors 'set the stage' for his actions. The defence is pushing for a life imprisonment sentence rather than a more severe penalty.

All witness testimony is expected to wrap up by Monday afternoon. The prosecution’s rebuttal witnesses will then address points raised by the defence before closing arguments begin on Tuesday. The trial will move to its final phase with closing statements on Tuesday. The prosecution’s rebuttal witnesses aim to counter the defence’s psychological evidence. A verdict will follow after both sides present their concluding remarks.