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

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  • #481
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...

It would depend. First, it depends on whether the court finds out. If the jurors dont tell anyone, no one will know. Second, it would depnd on what the juror heard and told the others. Did it affect their deliberations. Certainly it would be a strong argument for the defense to make. However, setting aside jury verdicts for stuff like that is not common.
 
  • #482
It would depend. First, it depends on whether the court finds out. If the jurors dont tell anyone, no one will know. Second, it would depnd on what the juror heard and told the others. Did it affect their deliberations. Certainly it would be a strong argument for the defense to make. However, setting aside jury verdicts for stuff like that is not common.

Thank you, Prairie.

Now that the sides have rested, my head is reeling with things the jury wasn't told, and wondering how much the ADAs can say in their closings...

e.g., Unless I missed it, the ME never told them that she found evidence of a chemical, like bleach, in Channon's mouth or ...below. :confused:

Without that or Vanessa's testimony, how far can TK or Price take it in closing? :sheesh:
 
  • #483
I missed a lot of the ME testimony, so I dont recall what she testified to concerning the bleach. The attornys in closing can only address those issued that were testified to in trial. They can point to testimony and evidence, and make statements about what that evidence means. But they can't mention things not admitted. So Vanessa's statement is totally out, they never will hear it.
 
  • #484
I missed a lot of the ME testimony, so I dont recall what she testified to concerning the bleach. The attornys in closing can only address those issued that were testified to in trial. They can point to testimony and evidence, and make statements about what that evidence means. But they can't mention things not admitted. So Vanessa's statement is totally out, they never will hear it.
That's what bothers me. I thought the ME testified in the Cobbins trial that she smelled what could have been bleach and the tissues appeared to have had it on them.

Without that testimony in this trial, the best the pros can say is that there was a bleach stain on her camisole, so...

Not much of an impact, I'm afraid. :sheesh:

ETA: and if I'm a juror who's heard about that, i'm wondering why the ME apparently didn't find it, and if it was just one of the false rumors that circulated about the case. (like body parts amputated)
 
  • #485
I dont know, but I'm guessing the reason the Prosecution didnt spend time harping on the bleach was because they had good DNA evidence on Davidson. If they bring up the bleach, the defense maybe would have said that it some how contaminated the samples, etc. I dont know, just a guess.
 
  • #486
Questioning the jury pool - round one

The first person made the cut after the defense told her right away that Davidson is a drug dealer and was doing drugs the weekend of the murders in January 2007.

There was a quick dismissal for the second person, who told the court she couldn't be fair during the trial because she already thinks Davidson is guilty. She also opposed the death penalty.

The third person was kept in the pool. She said she supports the death penalty, but life is hard and upbringing affects people's choices.

The fourth person, a female referee for the SEC, was also kept in the pool, although, a job meeting might change that.

The first black person made the cut for the jury pool after defense attorney Doug Trant asked if he could consider that Davidson's childhood included a drug addict mother who threw him out.

The court excused the sixth person for personal reasons.

The seventh person, a black woman, was kept in the pool after telling the court she believes life in prison with remorse is more of a miserable punishment than the death penalty.

Despite admitting that the details of the murders frighten her, the eighth person, a single woman, was kept in the pool.

The ninth person, a postal worker, made it to the next round.

However the judge was uncomfortable with the answers of the tenth person, who was dismissed.

The eleventh person was dismissed after breaking down during questioning. He and his girlfriend were kidnapped. He was beaten and she was raped. Judge Richard Baumgartner apologized to the man before excusing him.

The next man was dismissed shortly after saying Davidson should be hanged in public.
(I loved that one!)
http://www.newsrunner.com/display-a...=Questioning+continues+for+Davidson+jury+pool
 
  • #487
As much as I love TK, does anyone else think she would have been better off not to call Channon's boss?

The defense had rested and not been able to show she had ever even taken Oxycontin, TMK.

All bringing in the boss did was show that Channon had a drug test back in '06 that did show some Oxycontin. Thankfully, TK was able to slip in off the record that Channon had had a wreck, but she didn't have a witness to testify to it. :confused:

So thanks to that witness, the jury has a Channon-Oxy connection, and can wonder if Channon got addicted in '06. :sheesh:
 
  • #488
Judge asking the bailiffs to restrict traffic in and out of the doors out of respect to lawyers.
 
  • #489
Court in session.
 
  • #490
  • #491
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.

I have thought that the defense hoped one or two members of a Knox County jury would react against the prosecution when the victims were sullied. Yes, anyone who knows Knoxville is aware that a UT coed isn't going to drive into East Knoxville, especially at night. The women hanging around Davidson and his gang were not college girls from upper middle class families.
 
  • #492
Thank you, Prairie.

Now that the sides have rested, my head is reeling with things the jury wasn't told, and wondering how much the ADAs can say in their closings...

e.g., Unless I missed it, the ME never told them that she found evidence of a chemical, like bleach, in Channon's mouth or ...below. :confused:

Without that or Vanessa's testimony, how far can TK or Price take it in closing? :sheesh:

I don't recall this "minor detail" :furious: coming out or being mentioned either muffet.

:parrot:
 
  • #493
  • #494
Isn't there "aggravated" in Tn?? Or is that the same as "felony?" Wouldn't all murders be felonies??? :waitasec:

:parrot:
 
  • #495
I guess murder is "felony" if in the commission of other felonies, other charges are called "aggravated" if committed in the course of murder. It's insane how much protection he's given under our law.

:parrot:
 
  • #496
I have thought that the defense hoped one or two members of a Knox County jury would react against the prosecution when the victims were sullied. Yes, anyone who knows Knoxville is aware that a UT coed isn't going to drive into East Knoxville, especially at night. The women hanging around Davidson and his gang were not college girls from upper middle class families.

EXACTLY. Well said William :thumb:

:parrot:
 
  • #497
It has taken every shred of self-control Channon's father has (all the parents) to sit listening thruout this entire nightmare. I know he (all the parents) is gonna have a few choice words to say at LD's sentencing. :mad:

:parrot:
 
  • #498
I pray the jury feels their responsibility to deliver justice for these grieving parents.

2870huw.jpg
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  • #499
http://twitter.com/jamiescoop

Basic charges: 1st degree murder - premeditated, meaning decision made to kill, doesn't require long plot

Felony murder - vics killed while suspects carrying out either robbery, kidnapping, rape

Only those counts carry death as potential punishment
 
  • #500
... "by alternative means." Good Lord, the sheer weight and breadth of all these charges has to be overwhelming this jury about now... HE IS GOING DOWN :furious:

:parrot:
 
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