JURORS heard horrifying new details in court as the former FedEx driver who killed seven-year-old Athena Strand faces a decision on whether he should live or die.

The sentencing phase heard video and audio from inside the delivery van, where prosecutors say Tanner Horner abducted the little girl after stopping at her home.

Security footage showing Athena Strand inside a FedEx delivery truck with Tanner Horner.
Tanner Horner sang Jingle Bell Rock as he strangled seven-year-old Athena Strand to deathCredit: NBC 5 News
 

Defendant Tanner Horner looks up at his defense team during a capital murder plea hearing.
Horner, 34, pleaded guilty on April 7 to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in Athena’s 2022 killingCredit: AP
 

A young girl, Athena Strand, in a pink and yellow striped dress and matching bow, smiling at the camera with her hands on her hips.
Horner had been delivering a Christmas package to the family’s home in Paradise when Athena ended up inside his truckCredit: Facebook/ Maitlyn Presley Gandy
Jurors were told Horner sang Jingle Bell Rock as he strangled Athena to death in the back of the van.

In Fort Worth, Texas, the jury is now deciding whether Horner should be sentenced to death or spend the rest of his life in prison without parole.

Horner, 34, pleaded guilty on April 7 to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in Athena’s 2022 killing.

The case then moved straight into the punishment phase, with prosecutors laying out the final moments of Athena’s life.

Jury sobs as footage shows Athena Strand asking killer chilling last question

Court heard Horner had been delivering a Christmas package to the family’s home in Paradise when Athena ended up inside his truck.

That package contained Barbie dolls meant as a Christmas gift for the seven-year-old.

Video shown to jurors captured Horner pulling up to the home and later picking Athena up and placing her inside the van before shutting the door.

Before the camera was covered, Athena could be heard asking where he was taking her.

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Jurors then heard audio from inside the truck after the lens was blocked.

Athena asked, “Are you a kidnapper, and begged to go home as the exchange grew more frightening.”

NBC DFW reported jurors also heard Horner threaten to hurt her if she screamed.

Another chilling moment came when he told the child, “You’re really pretty. You know that?”

Jurors later heard him tell Athena to take her shirt off while she said no and asked for her mother.

The recording continued with crying, screaming and banging, leaving jurors visibly shaken in court.

Athena’s family chose to leave the courtroom before the video was played.

Prosecutors say Horner’s earlier claim that Athena’s death was an accident was a lie, arguing footage showed she was conscious and moving inside the truck.

Fox 4 reported Horner had told investigators he accidentally hit Athena with the van, panicked, kidnapped her and later strangled her.

Medical testimony in court said Athena died from blunt force trauma, smothering and strangulation.

Jurors also heard that male DNA was found on swabs from Athena’s sexual assault kit, while analysts also found blood under her fingernails and male DNA on her clothing.

The prosecution has rested its case after presenting the graphic van footage and forensic evidence.

The defense is pushing for life in prison instead of execution, citing Horner’s Asperger’s syndrome, other mental illnesses and claims of fetal alcohol and childhood lead exposure.

Maitlyn Gandy giving a statement about her daughter's death.
Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother left the courtroom before the video of her daughter’s abduction was played for the juryCredit: AP
 

A man with a beard and wearing a red and black plaid shirt and a navy blue and yellow baseball cap turned backwards.
Medical testimony in court said Athena died from blunt force trauma, smothering and strangulationCredit: Facebook/Tanner L. Horner