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

[Muffet]

Continuing... she took about 10 cuttings from that strip ...

she intentionally took cuttings from areas that did not overlap semen w/ blood... then went back and took cuttings that were only semen.

Says there was unidentifiable male DNA - he asks if YSTR testing would have helped - she says it might have...



Next tape lift -
3 individuals
at least one contributor was a male... he again asks if YSTR testing would have helped - she says it might have...


On same strip, there were a couple other lifts like those.. he says Davidson and Sutton couldn't be excluded, but not identified - she says correct.

 

[Muffet]

Moves to tape lift area two - area where Channon's DNA, a male, unidentified contributor - there were at least 3 contributors, at least one was male...

He's saying his point is that we still have an unidentified contributor on this swatch..

Asking about the male tech at her lab...

He says that shows that proper technique wasn't followed to avoid contamination...

She says he used gloves, she was there, but it could have happened by something by talking over it..

He asks if it could have been contaminated by putting it on floor to take pics? She says no - she put it on butcher paper...


"Now uh, talking about the prospect of contamination, Ms Milsap..." (his stuttering and Uhhs, drive me crazy!)

Judge interrupts, asks how much longer (haha) he says awhile, so judge says, let's break for lunch.

I think the judge is as annoyed as we are with Eldridge's wasting everyone's time picking at nits and just askin endless questions for the sake of asking, trying to make mountains outta molehills.

 

[cassiusleuth]

jamiescoop: Eldridge now focusing on two unknown male DNA profiles on Channon's panties #cntrial

Bast*$&*$!!!!!!!!!!! Oh I hate him...who knows who all they invited over to torture that poor girl..RIP Channon

 

[Muffet]

Knew this was coming. Channon's jeans were put back on obviously after first vaginal rape. I wonder why they did that. Changed their mind about what they were going to do with her?

And they'll also make an issue of his sperm not being found on the bed sheets. Just cobbins' & Nessa's & Channon's.

 

[Muffet]

Its interesting that Suttons DNA can't be excluded. Is she more involved than we've been led to believe? or was this just some latent DNA since she had lived there in the past?

Yeah, she said she was looking for skin cells on that strip, and I'd expect those would be less meaningful to find in a house the person lived in... They say dust is full of our skin cells. ick

 

[Muffet]

You know what, I'm starting not to be so scared of the defense. I don't think they have much, if anything at all. They're probably going to get slimey, but the evidence is pretty overwhelming that what they may be about to assert is not true. That's before the ME, who was dynomite in the Cobbins trial.

My fear is that the jury will have just enough reasonable doubt to not convict him of everything and not give him the DP, and that'll kill the families. :no:

The problem is that with all these inconclusives, the defense is showing there is no conclusive evidence that she had sex with Davidson after she put her jeans back on.
He's already trying to show that the rectal DNA was pushed in there by Cobbins or even the swab.

None of Davidson's identified on the bedsheets...

And I bet he makes issue of the fact that the crotch of the jeans weren't bloody yet...

With the story he's building (consensual sex for drugs, then the Cobbins gang got her and did the rest) the DNA doesn't seem to help us, as far as I can tell.

The only physical evidence I think he's seriously struggling with is Davidson's prints on the bags. I don't see that as reasonably explainable.

Don't get me wrong - I believe he's guilty as hell of everything - but I think the DNA is more convicting of Cobbins and Vanessa... Hard for a jury to say "inconclusive" can lead to a conviction "without doubt," and they won't see all the incriminating evidence we see.

I'm afraid they will expect conclusive DNA on those sheets. TBH, I would too. But I would also expect blood. So what I'm guessing is that he took her to his room and those sheets were taken away. I hope TK can say that...

 

[PrairieWind]

Who is this defense witness Susan Hill and what is she expected to testify about. She is claiming now she is too afraid to testify since she heard about the threats to the defense attorneys.

 

[dgfred]

Saw somewhere else she had information about Davidson and Channon having previous contact... but was skeered to testify. :innocent:

 

[dgfred]

My fear is that the jury will have just enough reasonable doubt to not convict him of everything and not give him the DP, and that'll kill the families. :no:

The problem is that with all these inconclusives, the defense is showing there is no conclusive evidence that she had sex with Davidson after she put her jeans back on.
He's already trying to show that the rectal DNA was pushed in there by Cobbins or even the swab.

None of Davidson's identified on the bedsheets...

And I bet he makes issue of the fact that the crotch of the jeans weren't bloody yet...

With the story he's building (consensual sex for drugs, then the Cobbins gang got her and did the rest) the DNA doesn't seem to help us, as far as I can tell.

The only physical evidence I think he's seriously struggling with is Davidson's prints on the bags. I don't see that as reasonably explainable.

Don't get me wrong - I believe he's guilty as hell of everything - but I think the DNA is more convicting of Cobbins and Vanessa... Hard for a jury to say "inconclusive" can lead to a conviction "without doubt," and they won't see all the incriminating evidence we see.

I'm afraid they will expect conclusive DNA on those sheets. TBH, I would too. But I would also expect blood. So what I'm guessing is that he took her to his room and those sheets were taken away. I hope TK can say that...

Just so he was there, and she later died is enough to convict him. But you are probably right that if the DNA stuff clouds the issue or doesn't put the jury way beyond no reasonable doubt... he may not get the DP. I couldn't understand for the life of me how Cobbins didn't get it... so anything is possible. :furious:

 

[Muffet]

Back in session - continuing Def cross of Milsap - re DNA ..

 

[Muffet]

Going over Channon's panties...

Testing performed - jan 28 2009 ...

Eldridge - they weren't submitted to you by KPD until then - Yes


Panties showed limited number of sperm in crotch...

She did a preliminary test for semen, then a microanalysis - verified presence of a sperm head... in one of several locations she cut from...

Channon's DNA obscured ability to ID male contributor's DNA in this sample.

Eldridge says the KPD coulda sent that sample out for YSTR testing, but they didn't... Eldridge did, later...

The results showed 2 different male contributors - both unknown - excluded Davidson, Cobbins, Newsom, Boys, etc...

 

[Muffet]

Moving to other places... Cobbins sperm was found on floral fabric, striped shirt, white camisole, and Channon's oral swab.

Are you aware that Camisol was examined for bleach, and showed the presence of bleach (notable that he admits it now)

Bleach can degrade DNA?
Yes

No further questions.

 

[dgfred]

Maybe since he brought the subject of bleach up... the prosecution can state this also!!! Oops maybe?

 

[Muffet]

Prosecutor Price asks about Newsom's rectal

semen - not sperm - no conclusive DNA profile could be obtained except Chris.

Asks if Chris DNA could have been from skin cells or his own semen... Yes.

Defense cross: But the report showed semen, not sperm, correct? Yes.

(What was that all about? )

 

[cassiusleuth]

jamiescoop: Knox County ME, who took on Scott Green in Cobbins' trial, headed in for battle in Davidson #cntrial

jamiescoop: Eldridge dinging TBI for not seeking out more specialized testing in samples couldn't extract profile #cntrial

jamiescoop: Eldridge now focusing on two unknown male DNA profiles on Channon's panties #cntrial

 

[cassiusleuth]

I LOVE THIS ME!!!!!!!!!! She is so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Muffet]

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)

 

[cassiusleuth]

jamiescoop: Courtroom is packed for medical examiner testimony. As Happy Gilmore said, That's just sick, chubs. #cntrial

 

[JulieR]

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

 

[Muffet]

She talks VERY fast. No way will I be able to get half of what she's saying down.