TN - Chris Newsom, 23, & Channon Christian, 21, murdered, Knoxville, 6 Jan 2007 #13

[SuziQ]

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Next up was death pen foe whose beliefs couldn't be swayed. She's out

Don't judge lest u be judged is proving stumbling block to jury service for juror

 

[SuziQ]

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Dude wants private chat over his circumstances but it's not hard to hear - he's on probation so he is excused

Contractor poised to snare new project gets a pass to focus on his bid

Cop's relative and aspiring teacher makes the grade Death penalty opposition is killing off jurors left and right this morning

 

[steelergirl]

Thanks Suzi! I'm in and out (obviously) while at work!

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

After morning round, we have 9 out and 8 added into the final pool. Most rejects were death pen foes #cntrial 9 minutes ago via txt

Man who has been soaking up news on the case drained from jury pool #cntrial
29 minutes ago via txt

 

[SuziQ]

Thank YOU Steelgirl, I'm in and out on my end too.

 

[SuziQ]

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Husband of pathologist squeamish over autopsy photos. Guess they don't chat about her work over dinner

Defense Lavit suggested black woman against death pen should change her mind so Coleman tried by "peers"

Lady who says "two wrongs don't make a right" is right enough for final pool

Man who won't be pinned down on imposing death makes it into final pool but betcha state kicks him in end

 

[Jayde3200]

Jamie's latest tweets:

Lavit finally stepped in it w/his "jury of her peers" to black jurors when lady says "someone who is african-american"

Is Lavit reading my twitter feed? Just used jury of peers w/white guy. Maybe I was being cynical

We've got a lot of keepers this afternoon

Judge to chick worried over photos "if u become emotional, become emotional. That's not a sin"

Woman whose mom left in vegetative state in crime state didn't prosecute says figure case against Coleman strong

Woman w/victim mom is booted as prejudiced toward Coleman cause she's charged

Judge to prosecutor TK - get autopsy photos here by Friday so jurors will know if they can stomach them

Juror experienced racial strife in high school but he's not bias, jerks come in all colors, he says

This guy says he thinks might be hate crime but Lavit isn't exploring that at all. Hello?

Last juror of day is black man who says punishment "I leave up to the Lord"

Today's numbers: 34 polled, 18 in the final pool and 16 canned. See tomorrow's KNS for full report

 

[steelergirl]

I love the fact that Jamie is covering this trial. As absolutely horrifying as this trial is and has been, she makes me smile with her posts a lot. Go Jamie!

 

[William N]

This (http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=12389304) has a video on Wednesday's jury selection.

 

[steelergirl]

LOL...Jamie...

Big shocker this am - cop/cowboy from tip of hat to his boots believes all killers should die. He's booted #cntrial less than a minute ago via txt

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

 

[steelergirl]

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Mommy wins, excused as anti-death but judge subtly let her know he knew the score #cntrial 12 minutes ago via txt

If ur kids can't buy u excuse, claim opposition to death penalty. That seems 2 b game this woman playing #cntrial 17 minutes ago via txt

Who talks this way - "If indeed the facts support such" Answer: exec compliance officer #cntrial 20 minutes ago via txt

Sometimes people surprise u: lady who recalled race in case seemed likely 2 b hardcore on death but she was leery #cntrial 25 minutes ago via txt

 

[steelergirl]

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

State's worst nightmare - juror who doesn't believe in death pen but insists can impose it #cntrial 40 minutes ago via txt

Woman who works for DAs conference makes cut and prosecution is slap happy about it #cntrial 24 minutes ago via txt

Black woman wrote on questionnaire "I don't want to be juror on this case" doesn't explain why #cntrial 20 minutes ago via txt

Black woman gets her wish, too wishy-washy on death pen, judge rules #cntrial
7 minutes ago via txt

 

[Muffet]

Judge concerned about size of Coleman jury pool so far

On Thursday morning, Judge Richard Baumgartner expressed concern about the size of the jury pool in the Vanessa Coleman trial.

The judge is seeking a Davidson County jury because of the extensive coverage and attention the case has received in Knox County.

...

Over the past few days of jury selection in Nashville, the majority of people who were excused left because they said they could not personally impose the death penalty.

Thursday morning, both the judge and defense attorneys pressed the potential jurors harder on their opinions, to see if they could be swayed to consider death as an option, if Coleman is convicted of first-degree murder.

The first man questioned Thursday could not be swayed on his opinion. Defense attorneys pressed him hard, saying they needed "intelligent" jurors, citing his graduation from a prestigious midwestern college. In the end, he would not budge and was excused.

Later, another young mother expressed concern about imposing the death penalty, even though she originally said on her written questionnaire that it could be an appropriate punishment in some cases. Judge Baumgartner dug deeper into her opinions and questioned why she had changed her mind. He told her he was worried about the size of the jury pool so far, which stands at about 40 people, who will return on Friday and eventually be whittled down to the final 16 who will travel to Knox County for the trial, which is set to begin on May 3.

...



http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=120281&catid=2

 

[Muffet]

I don't believe even half these people couldn't really impose the death penalty for 1st degree murder. I expect most are saying this to get out of serving, and that's sad. We need to do something to get better jurors.

OTOH, Lawyer friends of mine tell me that even when the smartest people are willing to serve, they get stricken in voir dire, because defense (and some pros) attorneys want the sheep-types who can be easily swayed by a sales pitch.

 

[steelergirl]

Jamie's on a roll today...LOL.

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Um, that's chipper, not chirper, which would make her a bird. She is jailbird at this point but still ... #cntrial 23 minutes ago via txt

Vanessa is just plain chirper today, grinning at jurors and even nodding in their direction #cntrial 24 minutes ago via txt

I love this juror's thinking - "what separates me from the bad guys is compassion." State's not liking him tho #cntrial 26 minutes ago via txt

Defense wins. Judge throws book at law and order man #cntrial
35 minutes ago via txt

We've got serious battle royale over Mr. Law and Order. Defense says he's death happy, state says he's fair #cntrial about 1 hour ago via txt

Funny 2 watch TK trying to make law and order type sound more reasonable 2 keep him in pool. She's good at it #cntrial about 1 hour ago via txt

Morning round tally - 10 out, 9 in #cntrial about 2 hours ago via txt

Big tug of war over "eye for an eye" dude. State loses. He's out #cntrial
about 2 hours ago via txt

Former Roane Countian w/ cat woes and hardcore attitude on crime claws her way out of pool #cntrial about 2 hours ago via txt

 

[William N]

Jamie Satterfield writes (http://twitter.com/jamiescoop) that Coleman is grinning at jurors and even nodding in their direction.

 

[steelergirl]

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Poor prosecution team - another nonbeliever in death pen makes cut. Worse, she's chronic do-gooder #cntrial 2 minutes ago via txt

Ugh can't type 2day. That should be challenges lawyers 2 make. They get 15 each to kick off anyone 4 any reason #cntrial 38 minutes ago via txt

We are now three shy of judge's "magic" number of 54 in final pool. That # accounts for challenges layers 2 make #cntrial 39 minutes ago via txt

 

[Muffet]

Jamie's on a roll today...LOL.

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Um, that's chipper, not chirper, which would make her a bird. She is jailbird at this point but still ... #cntrial 23 minutes ago via txt

Vanessa is just plain chirper today, grinning at jurors and even nodding in their direction #cntrial 24 minutes ago via txt

Jamie Satterfield writes (http://twitter.com/jamiescoop) that Coleman is grinning at jurors and even nodding in their direction.

Surprise, surprise. I wondered how they were clean up her image for the jury, from this:

So, I went looking and came across this old pic, which was quite shocking, and sad:

(Found here:
http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/...ristian-and-chris-newsom-murder-small-update/ )​

She was a pretty girl at one time. :no:

I'd wager two things:
1. That was taken before she met up with the drug gang.
2. We'll see it displayed for the jury during the sentencing phase.


Knoxnews has one of her talking with her atty in January, but I'm wary of posting photos up for sale, so until I get permission, I'll just post the link:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jan/29/judge-to-ponder-more-dna-testing-in-torture-slayin/

 

[Muffet]

With final pool complete, jury selection set for Friday in torture-slayings
By Jamie Satterfield
Posted April 29, 2010 at 5:31 p.m.

NASHVILLE - The so-called "magic number" of potential jurors needed to seat a final panel of 12 plus four alternates has been reached this afternoon in the case of torture-slaying suspect Vanessa Coleman.

With four people yet to be questioned, 56 Davidson County residents have made it into the final jury pool after three days of individual questioning.

It is shaping up to be a predominantly white and female pool.

Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner has set final jury selection for Friday morning. Each side in the case gets a chance to boot 15 people each without revealing a reason and another four votes each on alternates. That's why at least 54 people are needed in the final pool.

[...]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/apr/29/final-pool-complete-jury-selection-set-friday-tort/

​

 

[steelergirl]

Hi friends!! Catching up from where I left off yesterday!

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Lady says Coleman has prove her innocence. If judge doesn't kick her, defense will #cntrial 2 minutes ago via txt

Lavit - "do u believe innocent person is likely to be arrested and charged?" #cntrial
4 minutes ago via txt

Defense Lavit pretty milquetoast so far. I miss Scott Green. He made this process rock #cntrial 10 minutes ago via txt

Judge having bench conf w/ chick who worried autopsy pics would sway her verdict #cntrial 20 minutes ago via txt

Oops there's typo in state's power point, says "thin justice" instead of "think justice. Maybe justice on diet #cntrial 26 minutes ago via txt

TK won KO on the legal definitions match-up at the bench #cntrial
28 minutes ago via txt

Defense Lavit mounting private quarrel at bench w/ TK over def of various forms evidence #cntrial 31 minutes ago via txt

TK has on panel dude who served as juror on criminally responsible case, bet defense kicks him #cntrial 39 minutes ago via txt

TK - don't worry urself w/ fate of co-defendants #cntrial
about 1 hour ago via txt

Prosecutor TK - no witness will say Coleman killed either vic but she's criminally responsible anyway #cntrial about 1 hour ago via txt

Judge outlining basic issue - is Coleman an equal, facilitator or innocent #cntrial
about 1 hour ago via txt

Final jury selection in Coleman, starting w/ 9 women, 3 men in box. 4 black women, 1 black man, 2 young peeps #cntrial about 1 hour ago via txt

Got us another "eye for an eye" juror. This time it's a woman #cntrial
about 19 hours ago via txt

Judge Baumgartner is a junk food junkie - cheetos, snickers. But he's bone thin. Go figure #cntrialabout 19 hours ago via txt

 

[steelergirl]

http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Interesting dilemma for defense - do u bump black guy who's hardcore law and order? Hmmm. We'll c #cntrial 5 minutes ago via txt

Unlike Davidson, Coleman is not engaged in selection process. She's just chillin' #cntrial 9 minutes ago via txt

Reconstituted jury so far - 3 men (1 black), 9 women (4 black) #cntrial
15 minutes ago via txt

Prosecutors Price, TK not talking, indicating they aren't making challenge this go around #cntrial 25 minutes ago via txt

School teacher skilled at spotting liars out. Also out is chick who said Coleman had prove innocence #cntrial 31 minutes ago via txt

Unsung heroes in these trials - judge's asst Jennifer and state capital case expert Susan. They do grunt work #cntrial 39 minutes ago via txt

First round of challenges set to begin shortly #cntrial
41 minutes ago via txt

Lavit just asking the routine defense ?s, no hint of trial strategy #cntrial
about 1 hour ago via txt