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

[cassiusleuth]

Davidson sure doing a lot of blinking when she got on the stand. Is this the same one @ Cobbin trial?

Yes, same one.

 

[dgfred]

Davidson sure doing a lot of blinking when she got on the stand. Is this the same one @ Cobbin trial?

Yes it is.

 

[steelergirl]

Davidson sure doing a lot of blinking when she got on the stand. Is this the same one @ Cobbin trial?

.

yes ma'am it is...and she is EXCELLENT!!! very, very, very good witness.

Muffet - thank you so much....I'm at work and I appreciate it all!! Suzi - FEEL BETTER SOON!!! :blowkiss:

 

[Muffet]

Describing types of autopsies...

hospital type = disease / natural causes
forensic = investigation includes details of the scene itself... toxicology.. to determine cause and manner of death

take into account info from other experts, though the investigations are separate, objective, and not influenced by what police do.. they all just need to know what has been done, etc... collaborate...

Her duty is to determine manner and cause of death NOT who did it.

 

[Muffet]

Moving to the autopsies - starting with Chris'

Performed Jan 8, 2007

 

[kiki the parrot]

Next witness: ME - pathologist Dr Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan (Oh, boy.. i'm going to refer to her as ME, ok? lol)

Stating her creds and defining job - forensic pathologist... she graduated med school in Croatia... stayed there.. taught... then moved to US... went to get phd in chicago in neuro.. then another... omg.. I can't keep up - :crazy:

Summary: she's way qualified.

(I'll try to get screen caps as I can)

WAY. BRING IT ON (good am friend :blowkiss: sorry under such horrible, gruesome circumstances I have been following wbir this am btw tho just logging on here I see y'all are all over this :furious

arrot:

 

[yolorado]

Oh goody...the ME, my favorite witness from the Cobbins trial.

Thanks Muffet!

 

[kiki the parrot]

LET'S SEE MR PREPPIE LIBRARIAN'S FACE NOW... :furious:

arrot:

 

[kiki the parrot]

Sorry good am (afternoon) everyone. This just couldn't get any more grisly. Makes me have so much gratitude and respect for this ME and those who can do this work. I certainly never could.

arrot:

 

[kiki the parrot]

omG these poor parents... how can you sit there in the courtroom listening and watching, Jesus I ask you again to comfort and strengthen these parents and family members rayer:

arrot:

 

[JulieR]

I am so glad they are not showing the photos, I don't know if I can handle all this.

 

[Muffet]

She did not go to the scene - her partner did along with a physician assistant, because it was on a Sunday...

They took photos and evidence and it was waiting for her on Monday.

Showing jury slides of photos... I don't see them -

Describing how Chris was found.. on back,ankles bound by sheet strips and his belt..

Upper part of body was more charred... blistering shows very high heat burning over a long period of time...

Head covered by "sweatshirt"..

Danage to head...

TK -How does body get transported to ME office?

ME - carefully, by ME people - along with other evidence from next to the body..

photo of the body being trasnported.. with clothes and position and ligatures all kept the same way and position in which they were found...

photo of back - shows body was wrapped in comfortor and laid on back - ground contact prevented burning on back...

photo - ligature tying wrists together...

photo of head...gunshot wound - one of three on body.. a gag, a bandana used as blindfold.

next photo... next layer - under sweatshirt... the bandana, gag of ankle sock secured w/ what appeared to be a shoelace

 

[Muffet]

Next photo - all clothing items laid on a tarp - they gave a strong odor of accellerant...

Next 2 photos... ankle sock...

Next - gunshot wound to head - hair shaved to reveal details...

Looking for gunpowder... talking about the residues on flesh... says a contact gunshot... severed brainstem, so it was an instantaneous death upon this shot.

[more photos.. they're showing these...] bullet did not pass through - shows it lodged in skull on other side.

 

[kiki the parrot]

I did catch when wbir showed bloodsoaked rag (presumably sock) used as gag so anyone not wanting to see slides/photos be advised.

arrot:

 

[lizzybeth]

I know she probably isn't, but in a few of the glimpses they've shown of TK she almost looks like she's either averting her eyes or holding her hand up to them. Probably my imagination. I'm sure she's seen worse.

 

[kiki the parrot]

Liz sorry, TK?

arrot:

 

[Muffet]

Photo showing next shot - right side of high upper back, under ear - lodged in muscle of neck- was not a lethal injury...

No gunpowder residue - she can't tell how far away it was - just from more than 2-3 feet away.

Next photo - shows the small caliber lead bullet retrieved...

Next photo - Chris' back...pieces of ligatures, including what looked like pantyhose...

Next - lower back - third gunshot wound... too charred to evaluate the residue ...
it entered lower back and goes steeply upward, entering spinal cord, which it damaged severely... bullet lodged in muscle next to vertebra..

Next - bullet lodged in back..

Next - defect - fire made too hard to tell much...

next - bullet...

Next - the rest of the injury - in the anogenital area - photo of anal area - tearing, blood, bruising, scrapes, abrasions... all indicate penetration.. area was sampled to show extent & depth of injury... the bruises and contusions shown...

Next - ligatures on feet... belt wrapped twice... piece of torn bedsheet... plant material stuck in ligature... soil under, showing victim walked there thru soil barefoot...

Next... same

Next - photo of everything.. dress shirt, tee shirt, underwear, comforter, no slacks or jeans...

 

[Muffet]

Done w/ photos..

TK - explain evaluation of gunshot wounds...

ME - trajectory, is it mortal, what was distance, relative positions, was muzzle touching...

Distance determines the way and amount of gunpowder they find...

Soot travels short distance, gunpowder longer - 2-3 feet...

They define them as "contact", "close range", or "distant".

TK - explain "Stellate wounds": Gunshot wounds to heads /contact wounds = create energy inside skull, no ability to expand ...Stellate wounds create a lot of tearing and signs of the pressure.

 

[PrairieWind]

Do we know what happened to Chris's pants?

 

[lizzybeth]

Liz sorry, TK?

arrot:

Sorry, I meant TF, Takesha Fitzgerald, the prosecutor.