TN - Chris Newsom, 23, & Channon Christian, 21, murdered, Knoxville, 6 Jan 2007 #7

[SuziQ]

Courtroom cleared. He says be back at 1:30.

 

[kiki the parrot]

Reconvene 1:30 (EST) presumably closing arguments, followed by instructions.

arrot:

 

[Muffet]

Julie, i think the fact that Davidson had chris's shoes is very telling. Especially since they didnt really fit him. He claimed those shoes as a trophy. It shows me that Slim was the leader of the pack. He took the spoils: the shoes, the cell phone, the debit card, he gave away the clothes to HIS girl. If someone else had been the leader, they would have ended up with those items. Plus Davidson essentially admitted that it was HIS gun that was used to kill chris.

Oh, yes. In his interrogation, he might as well have been trying to explain why his gun would be shown to be the murder weapon. :thumb:

For Channon, I just thank heavens for his prints on the garbage bags she was in.

And I'm hoping the jury has heard that Davidson was ringleader and Cobbins got off by convincing the jury of that fact.

 

[Muffet]

I like how when the lawyers asked if the judge were going to put a time limit on them, he said no, but he also stated (while looking at the defense's table) that he would stop them if they starting saying the same thing over and over.

LOL Yes! :bowdown:

 

[kiki the parrot]

Omg I feel like I really am a parrot here... echoing after everyone else... :blushing: LOLOL I'm so slow :crazy:

arrot:

 

[PrairieWind]

What is the make up of the jury? race/gender/occupation? Anyone know?

 

[JulieR]

Reconvene 1:30 (EST) presumably closing arguments, followed by instructions.

arrot:

I have feeling after closing arguments the jury is going to hate the defense more then we do. lol See you all after lunch, I have to get something done in this house of mine.

 

[Muffet]

Someone said one of the jurors was a lawyer... that has my mind clicking. I hope s/he's the one who's been asking all the good questions.

Maybe s/he will make sure the rest of the jurors realize that they were not given "The whole truth".

 

[kiki the parrot]

What is the make up of the jury? race/gender/occupation? Anyone know?

I wish we did. But we can be sure the defense went to the wall on that

arrot:

 

[yolorado]

What a defense. Channon is still dead. The ME still found that she'd been horribly raped and abused by multiple individuals. The police still found her dead in Davidson's house, thrown away like trash. Davidson's prints are still on the bags containing Channon. Davidson's DNA was still inside Channon. Channon's clothes and other objects were given away by him to his girlfriend and found in Davidson's house, as well as (I think) some of Chris's property. The bonds used to confine both Chris and Channon were taken from Davidson's house. Davidson has been placed at the ongoing crime at various times by various individuals and by his own taped statement to police. Although I haven't heard every word and might have missed it, there isn't much testimony about the infamous "Gang From Kentucky" or why/how Davidson would have allowed them to commandeer his house to brutalize anyone, let alone clients. Personally, I've seen no evidence at all that Chis and Channon were clients, but if they were, what crack dealer wants his business to become known as roach motel for clients?! You don't want clients to think if they come to your place to buy crack that no one will ever seen them alive again, at least I imagine that would be the attitude of a drug dealer. Why would a "respectible" drug dealer let his brother torture and kill clients in his own house if he wasn't part of it for his own reasons?

If the defense is, they came there and traded sex for drugs, even though Channon apparently had access to what Chris took from other sources and had no drugs in her system, then what happened? Why doesn't she have drugs in her system; where are the drugs they "traded" for and how did they end up there under Cobbins control after Davidson left? When did Davidson leave? Where did he go? Why were there no witnesses to testify that he was somewhere else? Just several witnesses to testify that he was at Chipman during the time of the crime....

I'm pretty certain he's going to go down for Channon. I still worry that no one may ever go down for Chris, although I think there's a better chance that Davidson will than Cobbins. The prosecution did a better job with part of the crime this time, but still. Channon was found in the house, so that ties anyone in the house to her. After this trial I think Newsome was in the house, no matter what people say. I think they may have been structuring their lies to what they know actually happened, which more than anything is that he wasn't found in the house. But he was tied with articles from the house. His shoes were on a person who was in the house a lot. He was shot close to the house about an hour after he was raped. Good chance the rapists would have been more comfortable inside than out. After this trial, I actually think Cobbins participated with Chris as well as Channon, and I was less sure in his own trial.

Just wish the carjacking conviction could be introduced. It makes no sense that it can't be. Maybe that's the way the law wants it, but that just shows how skewed in favor of the defendant our system has become. Doesn't mean it's right.

 

[kiki the parrot]

Someone said one of the jurors was a lawyer... that has my mind clicking. I hope s/he's the one who's been asking all the good questions.

Maybe s/he will make sure the rest of the jurors realize that they were not given "The whole truth".

Just so long as he/she wasn't a defense atty But I hope and pray you're right!! rayer:

arrot:

 

[steelergirl]

Thanks friend. Omg pretty pathetic when armed robbery and carjacking are your "minor" charges...

arrot:

I think that the difference might be federal and state charges? Some of the gun charges would be federal offenses, and not state offenses. Also, Cobbins (the wonderful person he is) attacked a jail guard and was due to get sentenced for that as well.

 

[kiki the parrot]

What a defense. Channon is still dead. The ME still found that she'd been horribly raped and abused by multiple individuals. The police still found her dead in Davidson's house, thrown away like trash. Davidson's prints are still on the bags containing Channon. Davidson's DNA was still inside Channon. Channon's clothes and other objects as well as (I think) some of Chris's property. The bonds used to confine both Chris and Channon were taken from Davidson's house. Davidson has been placed at the ongoing crime at various times by various individuals and by his own taped statement to police. Although I haven't heard every word and might have missed it, there isn't much testimony about the infamous "Gang From Kentucky" or why/how Davidson would have allowed them to commandeer his house to brutalize anyone, let alone clients. Personally, I've seen no evidence at all that Chis and Channon were clients, but if they were, what crack dealer wants his business to become known as roach motel for clients?! You don't want clients to think if they come to your place to buy crack that no one will ever seen them alive again, at least I imagine that would be the attitude of a drug dealer. Why would a "respectible" drug dealer let his brother torture and kill clients in his own house if he wasn't part of it for his own reasons?

If the defense is, they came there and traded sex for drugs, even though Channon apparently had access to what Chris took from other sources and had no drugs in her system, then what happened? Why doesn't she have drugs in her system; where are the drugs they "traded" for and how did they end up there under Cobbins control after Davidson left? When did Davidson leave? Where did he go? Why were there no witnesses to testify that he was somewhere else? Just several witnesses to testify that he was at Chipman during the time of the crime....

I'm pretty certain he's going to go down for Channon. I still worry that no one may ever go down for Chris, although I think there's a better chance that Davidson will than Cobbins. The prosecution did a better job with part of the crime this time, but still. Channon was found in the house, so that ties anyone in the house to her. After this trial I think Newsome was in the house, no matter what people say. I think they may have been structuring their lies to what they know actually happened, which more than anything is that he wasn't found in the house. But he was tied with articles from the house. His shoes were on a person who was in the house a lot. He was shot close to the house about an hour after he was raped. Good chance the rapists would have been more comfortable inside than out. After this trial, I actually think Cobbins participated with Chris as well as Channon, and I was less sure in his own trial.

Just wish the carjacking conviction could be introduced. It makes no sense that it can't be. Maybe that's the way the law wants it, but that just shows how skewed in favor of the defendant our system has become. Doesn't mean it's right.

:clap: Just want to add (not that I believe their word for anything nor does it really matter at this point ) I know both reportedly had a hand in burning but didn't both bros point the finger at GT for Chris' actual killing? Have to take my kids to school, will bbl...

arrot:

 

[Muffet]

Cobbins begins life sentence at Hardeman County state prison
Knoxville News Sentinel
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/oct/26/cobbins-begins-life-sentence-hardeman-county-state/

WHITEVILLE, Tenn. - A co-defendant convicted for his role in the torture-slayings of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom has been moved to the Hardeman County Correctional Facility to serve his life sentence, said Dorinda Carter, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Correction.

-snip-

Cobbins had been at the Charles Bass Correctional Complex in Nashville, where he spent the last couple of months under observation until state prison officials decided to which prison he should be sent to serve his sentence.​

2 thoughts:

1. It looks like there were other options... I was hoping Cobbins and Davidson would wind up together and ...let the fur fly.

2. The link goes to the prison's web site: http://www.state.tn.us/correction/institutions/hccf.html
The description of the prison isn't what I'd like to see - it looks like medium security, with accommodations and everything except a free masseuse on call... :snooty:

 

[Muffet]

Article from Jamie Satterfield, our Tweeter:

In torture slaying trial, each side interprets evidence differently
Knoxville News Sentinel
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/oct/26/torture-slaying-interprets-evidence-differently/

 

[Muffet]

What is the make up of the jury? race/gender/occupation? Anyone know?

Here you go, from Suzi's post at the time [my bold]:

A jury was seated Friday for the trial of LeMaricus Davidson, the alleged ringleader in the murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.
The jury is made up of seven women and five men. Eleven of them are white. One is a black man.
Six alternates, three white men and three white women, were also chosen for the jury in the racially-charged case.

The defense was hoping for more black jurors, basing that choice on the stereotyped belief that many African Americans are against the death penalty.
6 News legal expert Greg Isaacs said the defense isn't surprised with the jury makeup.
"If you wanted and fought to have a jury from Knox County, you know from the beginning that your choices are limited," said Isaacs.
The judge said the jurors will be sequestered the night before opening arguments, which are due to start on October 19. They have a wait of a little more than two weeks.

More at link:
http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=11246184
​

Here's another interesting article she posted:

Over 90 percent of Davidson jury pool had already heard of case

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=11040264

​

This makes me want to say another HUGE Thank you, Suzi, for all the work you've done for us throughout these trials. :bow:

 

[PrairieWind]

I wonder if Slim will get to keep the eyeglasses? or if he has to give them back to the defense attornies so they can use them on the next defendant they represent.

 

[PrairieWind]

Muffet, thanks for the jury info. I still dont really understand why the defense insisted on a Knoxville jury, unless it was because they thought it would be impossible. Jurors familiar with Knoxville would know that your typical UT coed wouldn't be hanging out in that area of town. Maybe they are hoping that a white jury wont give a death sentence because they would be afraid of repercussions against them.

 

[dgfred]

Probably for appeal purposes as 'the jury did not have enough black people on it' excuse... so not HIS peers.

 

[Muffet]

Muffet, thanks for the jury info. I still dont really understand why the defense insisted on a Knoxville jury, unless it was because they thought it would be impossible. Jurors familiar with Knoxville would know that your typical UT coed wouldn't be hanging out in that area of town. Maybe they are hoping that a white jury wont give a death sentence because they would be afraid of repercussions against them.

Could be. Do you know if there would be a mistrial if in deliberations a juror brought up something they knew about the case that wasn't presented in the trial?

Like if they remembered something about the Cobbins trial and told the other jurors...