TN - Chris Newsom, 23, & Channon Christian, 21, murdered, Knoxville, 6 Jan 2007 #8

[alwaysonmymind]

Seems odd for the Judge to tell them "have a good evening". They have sat through a week of hell, have the images of tortured brutalized and murdered kids in their heads, and now have another man's life in their hands that they know they will decide tomorrow. I seriously doubt they have a good evening.

I hope the jurors are focused on JUSTICE for Channon and Chris. :banghead:

 

[Muffet]

If they object, they have to make those objections now. If I was the prosecutor I would just say, judge, just tell me what kinds of pics I can use, and how many, let me decide which ones channon looks best in.

This judge has been so cautious - overly so in some areas, I wonder why he took that stand here... maybe to cool a little media heat? And he could do it, because he doesn't think the defense could object since the jury wasn't there to see it?

The defense hasn't hesitated to object to the slightest things, so it seems they would have, had there been grounds here?

 

[kiki the parrot]

I don't know I am thinking Cobbins should be allowed to give a statement for Davidson. He is family........

Odd you should mention that... was just sitting here wondering if all the PERP's family impact statements at sentencing (and there were a slew of them at Cobbins') are "screened" by prosecution ie subject to "review..." Somehow I doubt it... and btw, believe it or not perps who commit these heinous capital crimes punish their own families too who are not themselves responsible yet left to deal w grief and fallout from the perps as well. They HEAP pain and heartache on everyone all the way around IMO.

arrot:

 

[alwaysonmymind]

The latest on WBIR:
Update: Victim impact statements reviewed
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=102893&catid=2

Interesting tidbit from the story:

Both families are wearing read as a show of solidarity and because Sutton testified Davidson would not let her wear red because he hated red.

Davidson admitted to officers that he was in a gang. Investigators say he and his brother Letalvis Cobbins are members of the crips. Crips typically wear blue and their enemies "bloods" wear red.​

He will be right at home in prison. LOTS of gangs in the Tennessee prison system..........

Prison Gangs or Security Threat Groups are not limited to traditional prison gangs, but also include
non-traditional, less-well-organized group of inmates. These groups, both traditional and nontraditional,
are problematic both because of the threat that they pose in the institution and because
in many instances they continue to operate or assist in the operation of criminal street gang activity
while incarcerated.
Some representative examples of Traditional Prison Gangs/Security Threat Groups:
Aryan Brotherhood Mexican Mafia
Black Guerrilla Family Texas Syndicate

~snip~

http://www.tbi.state.tn.us/Info Systems Div/TIBRS_unit/ganginfo.pdf

 

[kiki the parrot]

The latest on WBIR:
Update: Victim impact statements reviewed
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=102893&catid=2

Interesting tidbit from the story:

Both families are wearing read as a show of solidarity and because Sutton testified Davidson would not let her wear red because he hated red.

Davidson admitted to officers that he was in a gang. Investigators say he and his brother Letalvis Cobbins are members of the crips. Crips typically wear blue and their enemies "bloods" wear red.​

So it's true... I was half kidding, but definitely wondered about that. Wow, LD knowing this was like waving red in front of a bull. Or Crip, I should say... :crazy:

arrot:

 

[PrairieWind]

I'm guessing that tomorrow when it come verdict time we will see a lot of law enforecment in that courtroom. Or even more so when the decision on live/death is delivered. If its life, I could see Channons dad going after Davidson, and if its death I could see Davidson flipping out. But if I was one of those young clerks helping the defense, I'd be ready to get out of the way in a hurry either way.

 

[kiki the parrot]

I'm guessing that tomorrow when it come verdict time we will see a lot of law enforecment in that courtroom. Or even more so when the decision on live/death is delivered. If its life, I could see Channons dad going after Davidson, and if its death I could see Davidson flipping out. But if I was one of those young clerks helping the defense, I'd be ready to get out of the way in a hurry either way.

Yes I worry re Gary. All I know is compared to what his victims endured, w/e sentence LD's handed down will be more like a day at the circus.


arrot:

 

[Indianagirl]

I just pray, pray, pray, the Jury gets it right this time and convicts Davidson of the rape and muder of Newsom and he gets the death penalty. I want the Newsoms' to be able to speak to the jury this time about the wonderful person he was.
I also pray Channon gets her justice as well, which I have no doubt the jurors will convict him of the crimes against her.

Praying so deeply for the families. This case has really touched me. It's sickening to think about what these poor kids went through. I have even broke down crying a few times. Especially when I saw a video tribute for Channon on youtube. So very heartbreaking.

 

[skeetersma]

Thanks to all of you for your updates, as I am unable to watch from work. Prayers for the families and for the pros who have had to live thru this for a second time.

 

[JulieR]

Boyd, Green suggested, may have used his cellular phone to photograph the rape of Newsom.

“The allegations are Mr. Newsom was raped,” Green said. “Some of these pictures (on Boyd’s cell phone) show male anal sex, don’t they?”

“Yes,” Childress answered.

Childress said the images were clearly pornographic. He did not say there was any proof those images were of Newsom.

http://m.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/21/cobbins-says-guilty-pleas-best/

This is what I found on the pictures, there was another paper that excluded..... the he did not say there was any proof those images were of Newsom. They should be able to tell if when the pictures were down loaded?

 

[Indianagirl]

Boyd, Green suggested, may have used his cellular phone to photograph the rape of Newsom.

“The allegations are Mr. Newsom was raped,” Green said. “Some of these pictures (on Boyd’s cell phone) show male anal sex, don’t they?”

“Yes,” Childress answered.

Childress said the images were clearly pornographic. He did not say there was any proof those images were of Newsom.

http://m.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/21/cobbins-says-guilty-pleas-best/

This is what I found on the pictures, there was another paper that excluded..... the he did not say there was any proof those images were of Newsom. They should be able to tell if when the pictures were down loaded?

I agree. They should be able to tell the date and time those pics were taken....

 

[JulieR]

I was thinking Davidson should spend the night with his defense team since they believe in him so much. Hey maybe they can smoke a few blunts together, they all seem to be from space to me.

 

[lonetraveler]

Just returned home for the second time today. See that the jury left for the day. I know that they will not get any sleep tonight. I feel like it will not take long to get a verdict tomorrow. I hope not, I have to leave again around 11 o'clock. Please, please someone get a few still shots of the verdict (especially of Davidson), so that I can share. I'll check in tomorrow. Thanks so much for keeping me up to date.

 

[kiki the parrot]

Prosecutors asked Gary Christian not take the stand. They told the grieving father that he could be cross-examined, and he could get frustrated with defense attorneys.

However, Channon's older brother Chase shared his statements with the court.

"I said I love you sis, and she said I love you Chaser," Chase Christian said. "Those were the last words she ever said to me. That was the last time I ever saw my baby sister, my inspiration, and my best friend."

Both families are wearing read as a show of solidarity and because Sutton testified Davidson would not let her wear red because he hated red.

Davidson admitted to officers that he was in a gang. Investigators say he and his brother Letalvis Cobbins are members of the crips. Crips typically wear blue and their enemies "bloods" wear red...

Judge Baumgartner approved several pictures of the victims for use during the sentencing phase of the Davidson trial.

The judge allowed baseball pictures of Newsom, Christian photographed with children, and the couple together. Photographs of the victims with their families will also be allowed.

However, the judge did not allow pictures of Christian and Newsom as young children.

Co-defendant monitoring trial

Lemaricus Davidson's trial isn't quite over, but attorneys for George Thomas are not wasting anytime is collecting information from the proceeding.

Thomas Dillard and Stephen Johnson want the timeline used by the prosecution during Takisha Fitzgerald's closing arguments.

In a motion filed on Tuesday, Thomas' attorneys also asked for the aerial pictures of Davidson's house at 2316 Chipman Street and Washington Ridge Apartments.

The diagram of Davidson's house that was entered into evidence during this trial is also on the list being requested by Thomas' lawyers.

Thomas is expected to go to trial on December 1st.

(full article cont'd at link)

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/newsom_story.aspx?storyid=102893&catid=177

arrot:

 

[kiki the parrot]

Altho in some jurisdictions there's a considerable gap of time between, it's my understanding if verdict is guilty the judge will proceed almost immediately to sentencing. This presumably would explain previewing of witness impact statements prior to any verdict. For some reason I previously thought these two phases were somewhat more spread apart.

arrot:

 

[kiki the parrot]

And gee I guess I never realized victim impact statements could be "cross-examined..." Back to Trial 101 for me...

arrot:

 

[Indianagirl]

Here is a link to WBIR, there are videos on demand for each trial day. You can watch it if you missed it live and want to see a certain person's testimony.

http://search.wbir.com/sp?aff=1100&...idson+trial,+on+demand&submit.x=8&submit.y=11

 

[JulieR]

Is the jury allowed to go home each night or do they all stay together in a hotel?

 

[Jayde3200]

I don't know if any of you have seen this video. I know with all the searching lately for video, I never saw it before but it's nice to see the house on Chipman Street coming down.

Here's the article and the link is below where you can watch the video:

The house where Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom were tortured and slain was razed today. Waste Connections Inc., which is located next door to the house, bought it with the intent of tearing it down and putting in its place a memorial honoring Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

Benson Henry’s name isn’t on the indictment, but he and many of his co-workers still felt responsible for the horrific crimes committed next door to their workplace.

“We have to work every day next to this awful scene,” said Henry, division vice president for Chipman Street firm Waste Connections Inc. “I think a lot of us have a tremendous amount of guilt. We were here on that Monday (Jan. 8, 2007) when (Channon Christian) was possibly still alive.”

So the firm decided to buy the house where Christian, a 21-year-old University of Tennessee student, and Christopher Newsom, her 23-year-old boyfriend, were held captive, beaten, tortured, raped and slain, and tear it down.

“We are going to put up a memorial — a tree with possibly a little plaque maybe, something more in tune with keeping with nature, having a pretty place,” Henry said Wednesday as the house was reduced to rubble in just more than an hour.

Christian’s father, Gary Christian, said the guilt borne by Henry and his co-workers is misplaced. Knox County Medical Examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan has concluded that Channon Christian suffocated inside a trash can in the house in the evening hours of Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007.

“They’ve got nothing to feel guilty about,” Gary Christian said.

As mothers Deena Christian and Mary Newsom embraced, fathers Gary Christian and Hugh Newsom surveyed the pile of wood, broken glass, bricks, shingles and siding.

“It was an evil place,” Gary Christian said. “I’m glad it’s gone. We appreciate the Waste Connections people.”

As the backhoe that toppled the house tossed its remains into a Dumpster, Hugh Newsom noted that the hole in the hearts of all of those family and friends of the slain couple can never be filled.

“I think it helps the people in this neighborhood to try and rid them of the memory of this location,” he said of the house’s razing. “I think it helps the people in the neighborhood more than it does any healing for us.”

His wife added, “Even though it’s gone, we’ll never forget what happened here.”

The destruction of the house comes one week after the sentencing of an accessory to the couple’s carjacking who was implicated in the actual slayings by Waste Connections employee Xavier Jenkins.

Jenkins had shown up early for the night shift and was snacking in his car when he noticed a car a relative testified she had loaned Eric Dewayne “E” Boyd parked at the Chipman Street house, along with a Toyota 4-Runner believed to belong to Channon Christian. He later saw four men inside that Toyota, although only three men are charged in the slayings. Boyd has not been charged in the killings, however.

Earlier this week, Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner met in his chambers with state prosecutors and the lead defense attorney for one of those slaying suspects, Letalvis Cobbins. He then set a Nov. 3 hearing in Cobbins’ case without explanation.

Neither prosecutor Leland Price nor lead attorney Kimberly Parton will say why. However, the meeting came the same day the office of attorney Bruce Poston, appointed to assist Parton in the case, agreed to take on the defense of William Norman Johnson, the man accused in a shooting at Knoxville Center mall.

Baumgartner already had ordered Poston to clear his calendar to focus on assisting Parton in Cobbins’ case, which is set for trial in January. Cobbins and slaying co-defendants Lemaricus Davidson, Vanessa Coleman and George Thomas all face the death penalty if convicted at their respective trials.



Link: http://www.knoxnews.com/videos/detail/demolition-house-2316-chipman-st/

 

[Jayde3200]

I found the videos of the interrogation of Davidson if anyone wants to watch them again. They are set up in 11 parts on this site.

Link: http://www.knoxnews.com/videos/detail/davidson-interrogation-video---part-1/

Here is the link to the transcript if anyone wants to read along:
http://web.knoxnews.com/pdf/071809carjack_transcript_davidson.pdf