TN - Chris Newsom, 23, & Channon Christian, 21, murdered, Knoxville, 6 Jan 2007 #1

[Indy Gal]

Sounds to me like this Fitzpatrick dude is trying to stir up a racial riot. I googled his name and he showed up during the Duke/Dancer episode as well.

Apparently he thinks if you're an underprivledged black person living in poverty, you have the right to attack any better privleged person.

Sounds like a real gem of a guy to me.

i agree from your link lurker....

That whites' ancestors and the government hasn't and doesn't educate whites on how the legacy of slavery has created the impoverished conditions that do continue to influence and trap our people doesn't mean we have to excuse their ignorance.

so this man was a slave. not to start a race war here but i dont get it will white people have to listin to this slavery crapp for ever? I feel so bad that this is a part of history, but we really need to move forward. No body in todays world was a slave, I was never a slave owner so why do i have to hear about this daily? i shouldnt have said crap but it really bothers me. i just dont understand. I have friends of all the colors of the rainbow and no one can answear my question. When will this end, WE ARE ALL PEOPLE!!!! NOT COLORS BUT PEOPLE......geez

 

[tennessee]

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6536084

"KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- One of the suspects in the double murder of a young Knoxville couple is facing new charges for armed robberies committed just days after the murders.
Lemaricus Davidson is charged with six counts related to two robberies.
The Knox County grand jury indictment states that Davidson robbed a worker at the Pizza Hut at 3428 N. Broadway at gunpoint and snatched a woman's purse at gunpoint on the same day, January 8.
Davidson is also charged for possessing a weapon as a convicted felon during the robberies. He was convicted in 2001 of aggravated robbery and carjacking in Madison County, Tennessee.
Davidson is due on court on the robbery charges on September 27."

 

[tennessee]

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6530646&nav=menu7_2_1

"
KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- In court Thursday, a judge decided the four suspects charged with the murder, rape and kidnapping of a young Knoxville couple will be tried separately.
Letalvis Cobbins will be tried first in May 2008.
Cobbins faces 46 counts including 16 counts of felony murder, two counts of premeditated murder, two counts of especially aggravated robbery, four counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, 20 counts of aggravated rape and two counts of theft.
Vanessa Coleman will be tried next, followed by Lemaricus Davidson and George Thomas.
Prosecutors haven't said yet whether they'll seek the death penalty.
Investigators continue gathering evidence and conducting interviews in the case. They're also waiting for evidence to come back from processing in a crime lab.
The four suspects are due in court for their next hearing on September 27."

 

[tennessee]

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=45318

"The four suspects in the fatal carjacking, rape, and murders of Newsom and Christian will be tried separately.

Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, Vanessa Coleman, and George Thomas are charged in a 46 count indictment with the January kidnapping, assault, rape, and murders of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23.

Eric Boyd remains in federal custody, indicted for hindering investigators trying to arrest the others.

The four suspects charged by the state appeared in a Knoxville criminal courtroom Thursday, where it was decided that the four trials will begin in May of 2008 and conclude in August.

A decision has not yet been made as to whether the state will seek the death penalty against any of the defendants.

But prosecutors were adament about trying Cobbins first. He is set to stand trial May 12, 2008.

Vanessa Coleman's trial will follow on June 16, 2008.

Coleman's parents were in court Thursday, as were family and friends of both Christian and Newsom.

Coleman winked at her parents as she entered and exited the courtroom. Her father was visibly upset while his daughter sat in a prison jump suit feet in front of him. He wiped away tears.

Christian's best friend, sitting across the aisle, also wiped tears from her face as the rest of the trials were set.

Davidson's trial is set for July 14, 2008.

Finally, Thomas will have his day in court August 11, 2008.

All suspects will be back in court September 27 for a scheduling hearing to set deadlines for discovery and motions to be filed.

There is already talk that one defendant's attorney will file a motion to move the trial out of Knox County."

 

[tennessee]

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=45338

"They have also become a hot topic for hate groups all over the country, with some making the claim that the crimes were racially motivated.

However, Police Chief Sterling Owen, IV says race did not play a role in the killings, and city leaders say they just want to keep the peace and assure a fair trial in Knoxville. All are concerned by threats from some white supremacy groups to hold rallies in Knoxville to protest the crimes."


"White supremacy websites and WBIR.com's comments section have suggested that other rallies might be held in Knoxville this weekend and next month.

Those who support the rallies say the crime hasn't received fair attention as a race-related incident.

Chief Sterling Owen says that's because authorities have no evidence to suggest that the fact that the suspects are black and the victims were white is anything more than a coincidence.

"We have no evidence to support the fact this crime was a race crime," says Owen emphatically. "It appears to have been a random violent act."

Despite the chatter surrounding the case on many websites, statistics show that in Tennessee, white people are more often the crime victims of other whites. Whites also commit more crimes.

Mayor Bill Haslam says he believes most of the attention on the race of the suspects in this crime is coming from people who don't live in Knoxville.

When asked his opinion of whether he would welcome the protests, Haslam said, "Let me put it like this, I think we have a lot of people here, working to make relationships better and solve problems, and my feeling is you have some people here from out of town that are trying to not solve problems. I'll just leave it at that."

Chief Owen is also concerned that focus on race could cause problems when the case comes to trial.

"One of the reasons we're trying to be prepared and don't want something to happen (is that it) might turn into a basis for transferring the trial," says Owen. "We want the venue for this trial here, and things of this nature can cause problems with that."

The president of the Knoxville chapter of the NAACP is concerned about the threatened rallies, but says he's primarily saddened for the victims' families.

"We definitely feel the pain and sorrow for a family that has lost their children," says Ezra Maize. "We cannot stop others from coming into the city to rally and march. I do hope and pray that if there is a protest, if there is a rally or a march, that it's done in a peaceful manner.

"If that's what you choose to do, we are not trying to add fuel to the fire," Maize added.

He said the NAACP has no plan to counter protest."

 

[tennessee]

People I know are staying away from downtown this weekend as there is supposed to be some sort of rally. There is supposed to be one planned for Memorial Day and then the one for sometime in June.

I truly hope that these white supremacy people will stay away.

What was done to Channon and Christopher was beyond horrendous and those animals should be put down for what they did to them. I just pray it doesn't spark more racial hatred and violence in this neck of the woods.

 

[Levi]

Well, they gave it 3 mins on Fox & Fox News' Bill Hemmer actually said they wouldn't give the details because they are too gruesome.

Interesting that Fox should overtly cover up the details. Hopefully the publics interest is piqued & they will demand the details be laid out on national TV.

 

[nanandjim]

What totally perplexes me is why the prosecution has not decided if they will be seeking the death penalty. If this case doesn't scream "death penalty," no case does. This is the most horrendous crime that I have heard of. Perhaps, the victims' parents are against the death penalty. That is the only reason that I can see why the prosecution would be hesitant. I think that they should still seek it.

 

[Levi]

Good point. I know the NAACP President has been inside the court room. IMO he is an idiot. I read somewhere where he made some sort of statement like we don't know if they are guilty or not. :doh: Isn't it basically an open & shut case?

I just hope the prosecutor is not seeking the death penalty because of the NAACP President.

 

[DawnTCB]

Dawn - Is there a point to the email that you received? Was it sent to warn others or to make others aware that these things do happen? Was it sent to ensure that these thugs receive the death penalty? I hope that is what they all get because they are the scum of the earth.

Oh yes, the point was to note that there was no media attention because the victims were white and the perps were black. It is the same basic email reprinted on snopes.com .

I have a certain member of my extended,extended, extended family who relishes all stories where there is "proof" of unfair treatment of white people due to (in his mind) excessive help to non-whites through welfare, food stamps, social security, the Bill of Rights, etc. Name your urban legend of the day and I am sure this long lost cousin has read it and forwarded it because he thinks somewhere someone used race to one-up some decent white people. Anyway, he forwarded me this, not realizing (or probably caring) that I lived this story and might know more about it than he did.

 

[Indy Gal]

Sorry I havent been here.....I just wish this world would get over color. These people deseve just as much respect as the next person. I just keep thinking that at sometime we will all be one race anyhow so whats the point. My BF says I am dumb but how many of you think that we will all be one race someday, Just curious.

 

[southcitymom]

What totally perplexes me is why the prosecution has not decided if they will be seeking the death penalty. If this case doesn't scream "death penalty," no case does. This is the most horrendous crime that I have heard of. Perhaps, the victims' parents are against the death penalty. That is the only reason that I can see why the prosecution would be hesitant. I think that they should still seek it.

Sometimes the prosecution keeps this information close to their chest for a while as a strategic move.

 

[southcitymom]

Sorry I havent been here.....I just wish this world would get over color. These people deseve just as much respect as the next person. I just keep thinking that at sometime we will all be one race anyhow so whats the point. My BF says I am dumb but how many of you think that we will all be one race someday, Just curious.

It would take a lot of time, Indy Gal, but of course it could happen. We just move slow here on planet earth - not too long ago interracial marriages were illegal and some places in the deep South still wish they were.

Prejudices die out slowly over time, but it does take a long long time.

 

[Samiya]

The reason for the death penalty is creatures like these shouldn't be allowed to continue masquerading as people.

Well said! There needs to be an applause emoticon here.

When they sentence someone to death, I wish they'd be as quick in carrying it out as they are to drive someone to jail for life.

Sami

 

[Indy Gal]

It would take a lot of time, Indy Gal, but of course it could happen. We just move slow here on planet earth - not too long ago interracial marriages were illegal and some places in the deep South still wish they were.

Prejudices die out slowly over time, but it does take a long long time.

How long does it have to be? I just wish our world wasnt ran on double standards. I just dont understand how people can still be so ignorant. I dont understand it when it happened, but I mean we live in a totally different world now. If this continues then the things MLK, Rosa Paks, Malcom X....etc have done. IMO it is kinda just like spitting on all of their hard work. I for one white girl sure appreciate everything they and others have done. I just dont agree with the jessie and Als and the freak listed in a couple posts up.

 

[Indy Gal]

here is another thread on this topic

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49603

 

[txsvicki]

Sorry I havent been here.....I just wish this world would get over color. These people deseve just as much respect as the next person. I just keep thinking that at sometime we will all be one race anyhow so whats the point. My BF says I am dumb but how many of you think that we will all be one race someday, Just curious.

Maybe in Heaven someday when the world has ended, but I don't think we'll ever be one race. The Bible says that there are going to be Jewish people at the end from the 12 tribes of Israel and that the people who are now Islam will want war until it's all over.

 

[tennessee]

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=45389

"As the General Manager of the Tennessee Theater, Becky Hancock often has her eyes on stage.

"What I remember most are his eyes," Hancock explained. "That's how I was able to identify the photograph."

But for weeks, all she could see was the face of the man she says grabbed her purse when she stopped at a Pizza Hut on North Broadway to pick up a pizza on her way home from work on January 8.

"I saw anger, and then a little bit of bewilderment," she said.

He may have been as surprised as she was.

"My first reaction was, 'No, you can't have my purse,'" she said. "And I threw my shoulder back, and as I did that, the strap on my purse broke, and I got the purse, and he got the strap."

When he turned to leave, she says she noticed he was also holding a gun.

She says the clerk behind the counter told her that the man that left on foot had been pointing it at her."

 

[tennessee]

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6542849

Channon Christian's parents speak out about brutal double murder

"KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- For the first time since their daughter's murder, the family of Channon Christian is speaking out about their grief.
Police say 22-year-old Channon Christian and her boyfriend, Christopher Newsom, were carjacked, kidnapped, tortured, and murdered last January.
That night the couple was having dinner and watching a movie at a friend's apartment off Washington Pike. It is the last time they were heard from.
Channon's father, Gary Christian, says he was the last one to speak to his daughter. She called home just after midnight, telling them she was going to be late.
"I said. 'Alright, be careful, and I love you.' That's the last thing she said to me, that she loved me," he said.
Gary and Dina Christian say life has been a living hell since that last phone call."

 

[southcitymom]

How long does it have to be? I just wish our world wasnt ran on double standards. I just dont understand how people can still be so ignorant. I dont understand it when it happened, but I mean we live in a totally different world now. If this continues then the things MLK, Rosa Paks, Malcom X....etc have done. IMO it is kinda just like spitting on all of their hard work. I for one white girl sure appreciate everything they and others have done. I just dont agree with the jessie and Als and the freak listed in a couple posts up.

Me too - and, while we truly have a long way to go, I choose to see the glass as half full because a lot of progress has been made in a relatively short amount of time.

We just have to keep striving.

Sometimes, though, I think if we were all one race, we would just find something else to separate us because that's what we do. Human nature may well be colorblind in this regard - the need to focus on differences because focusing on similarities is too scary!

Have you ever read The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss? Great little story about prejudice.