A Chattanooga man who murdered trial witness Bianca Horton nearly a decade ago was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison in Hamilton County Criminal Court.
Andre Grier, 38, was found guilty Tuesday by an Anderson County jury of first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit especially aggravated kidnapping.
The same jurors deliberated for about two hours Wednesday before returning Grier’s sentence.
He could have also been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
Prosecutors argued for capital punishment, citing aggravating factors in Grier’s case. He committed a heinous, atrocious and cruel murder during a kidnapping, and “the whole reason you’re here, a witness was killed to avoid prosecution,” prosecutor Amy Weirich said.