MANSFIELD, La. – Brian Horn, convicted of killing 12-year-old Justin Bloxom, will be formally sentenced to death on Thursday after a DeSoto Parish jury agreed with the decision in July. This comes after Horn’s first conviction in 2014 was overturned by the state Supreme Court, delaying his sentencing until a new trial was held last summer.
Horn, a twice-convicted sex offender and former taxi cab driver, lured Justin by posing as a young girl via text messages. After picking up Justin from his friend’s house, Horn’s cab ran out of gas on U.S. Highway 171 in Stonewall, where he then killed Justin and left his body in a shallow pool of water beyond a property fence line.
Despite the jury’s decision, Horn’s attorneys filed a motion for a new trial this week, which will be heard by DeSoto District Judge Amy Burford McCartney at 1 p.m. If the motion is not granted, McCartney will proceed with Horn’s sentencing.
Throughout the trial, Horn chose not to testify, while his attorney argued that his actions, while “disgusting,” were not intentional. However, the state argued that Horn’s actions were preplanned and sexually motivated, highlighting the lack of remorse in the murder of an innocent child.
The community and authorities await the outcome of the hearing, as justice for Justin Bloxom remains at the forefront of all proceedings. This case has reignited discussions about the justice system’s handling of similar cases and the issue of capital punishment.
In conclusion, Brian Horn, convicted of the 2010 killing of 12-year-old Justin Bloxom, faces formal sentencing to death after a DeSoto Parish jury decided on the punishment in July. This comes after his previous conviction was overturned, delaying his sentencing until a new trial last summer. Horn lured Justin by posing as a young girl via text messages and later killed him, leading to renewed discussions about the justice system’s handling of such cases and the issue of capital punishment.