KNOXVILLE (WATE) - The parents of murder victims Channon Christian and Chris Newsom will always hold on to the memories of their children, but they're also seeking more justice in court.
The couple was carjacked at gunpoint, robbed, tortured, raped and killed in January 2007.
Christian, a 5'7" student at the University of Tennessee, was bound, put in garbage bags and stuffed in a trash can where she suffocated.
Newsom was bound, taken to a set of railroad tracks, shot three times and then set on fire.
Both wound up nearly unrecognizable on autopsy tables.
The randomness of the torture slayings evoked fear and disbelief from authorities and the community.
A massive investigation eventually brought four defendants to trial. Vanessa Coleman was sentenced to 53 years on lesser charges in the case.
Coleman's boyfriend, Letalvis Cobbins, and his friend, George Thomas, will spend the rest of their lives in prison.
And Cobbins' half-brother, LeMaricus Davidson, received the death penalty.
Still the parents of the victims say they have unfinished business.
"They kept saying Davidson was the ringleader. Well he may have been the ringleader, but he wasn't the most evil of them all. He may have been the ringleader, but he did everything Eric Boyd said," Deena and Gary Christian said.
Boyd is serving an 18 year prison sentence in this case. He was convicted in federal court as an accessory after the fact for helping Davidson hide from authorities.
However, Boyd was never charged with rape or murder. "I will always feel like Boyd is getting away with murder," said Chris' mother, Mary Newsom.
Cobbins told investigators it was Boyd and Davidson who launched the crime spree that started with the couple's carjacking.
"They jump out of the car and run to a white SUV and, um, there was two people, a man and a woman at the SUV. They jump in, pointing guns at them and, and um, they carjacked them I guess," Cobbins said during one interview by authorities.
"He is one of them that got in the (Toyota) 4Runner and put a gun on Channon. For that, he needs to face the death penalty," Gary Christian said.
"Eric Boyd was the one that first took him (Chris) away and tied him up and raped him," Mary Newsom said.
Most, if not all, of the defendants insinuated that Boyd was the one to first take Chris Newsom away after the carjacking. They said he returned a short time later without Newsom to Davidson's rental home on Chipman Street, where Christian was held captive.
"I figured when he came back without him you know that he went ahead and did something with the old boy," George Thomas told investigators in an interview.
"You don't know if Chris felt the bullet, but he damn well felt what they did to him," Gary Christian said. "I think Thomas shot him in the back and Eric Boyd shot him in the head."
"He never told me he did any of that. He never told me he was involved in any of that," said Boyd's attorney, Phil Lomonaco, during a recent interview.
Lomonaco was appointed to represent Boyd during the federal trial. He says he took a lot of heat for taking Boyd's case, but he had an obligation to uphold the Constitution.
Lomonaco also says if there's tangible evidence against Boyd, the state should make a move. "If they have the evidence that there is probable cause, then they should do it."
But even with all the accounts implicating Boyd, the Knox County District Attorney General's Office by law can't use the incriminating statements made to investigators by the other convicted killers, even if they did prosecute Boyd.
"I don't feel like Chris got full justice," said his father, Hugh Newsom.
The Newsoms know key evidence has to turn up to get any break in this case. "The longer it goes, the dimmer the memory gets, and you have witnesses, key witnesses, that disappear on you," Hugh Newsom added.
The Knoxville Police Department and the DA's office wouldn't comment for this report, except to say the case is still open and under investigation.
However, "There is no doubt that Eric Boyd is going to be prosecuted in state court," Gary Christian said. "Eric Boyd is not going to come on the streets in this country again."
The Christians say the other convicted killers may not have been motivated by race, but they believe Boyd was. "Eric Boyd did what he did because he hated white people," Gary said.
When asked if he feels this was a hate crime on the part of Eric Boyd, Hugh Newsom said, "Yes, absolutely."
The parents have been to more than 200 court proceedings to seek justice for the children they only see now in photos and dreams.
"Between, I think all four of us, we will never stop until everybody that was involved is put behind bars," Deena Christian said.
Boyd is being held at a medium security prison in West Virginia with 12 years of his 18 year sentence still to serve. He's due to be released in 2022.
Boyd's federal conviction in this case is under appeal.
Showing posts with label Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Show all posts
Friday, November 19, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, October 30, 2009
Lemaricus Davidson Sentenced To Death
The sooner this damn nigger goes to hell the better.
KNOXVILLE - The gates of Tennessee's only death row prison opened wide for Lemaricus Davidson tonight, hours after a Knox County jury sentenced him to die for his role as the ringleader in the January 2007 carjacking, torture and killings of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.
Davidson arrived at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution's Unit 2 in Nashville around 6 p.m. local time, said Dorinda Carter, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Correction. He'll spend 23 hours per day alone in his cell every day, with just one hour of daylight in a caged yard.
That status won't change for at least 18 months, Carter said. Depending on his behavior, Davidson could eventually be upgraded to allow occasional phone calls or the chance to apply for inmate jobs such as cleaning, she said.
"Regardless of their status, they don't ever leave that building," she said.
The jury of five women and seven men deliberated about four hours before returning its decision this afternoon to a packed courtroom.
"The punishment is death," the jury foreman said.
The victims' families gasped at the verdict, but Davidson showed no reaction. Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner admonished those in the courtroom to control any outburst.
"The murder was especially heinous, atrocious and cruel," the foreman said, reading from the verdict form.
Davidson, 28, most likely will be taken to Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville where death row is housed. Some male inmates, however, are incarcerated at Morgan County Correctional Complex in Wartburg for security reasons. Two inmates with the death penalty are currently housed at that prison.
Courtoom Updates From The Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom Trial
Starts at the bottom.
October 30, 2009 - 10:32am
After the jury left, defense attorney Doug Trant raised an objection to part of the jury's instructions. He claimed that Newsom's death cannot be called "mutilation" because that legally requires that the victim's head or limbs are cut off.
That was not the case with either of the victims.
October 30, 2009 - 10:27am
The jury is now being sent to deliberate.
October 30, 2009 - 10:23am
After reading his instructions, the judge reviews the forms the jury must fill out upon deciding the sentence.
October 30, 2009 - 10:13am
Judge Baumgartner explains the jury's choices. One is life, which can come with the possibility of parole after 51 years. Another is life without parole. The final sentence option is the death penalty.
"You are the sole judges," he tells jurors.
October 30, 2009 - 9:53am
Closing arguments are done and the judge is now giving instructions on how they should reach their decision on a sentence.
"You have to decide unanimously, beyond a reasonable doubt, that an aggravating circumstance exists," he says.
October 30, 2009 - 9:50am
"These crimes cry out for the maximum punishment," Price says. "The maximum!"
October 30, 2009 - 9:40am
Leland Price takes up the final closing argument for the state, asking the jury to "use your common sense."
"Everybody has choices," Price says. "And what did he do? He threw those choices away."
"Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, the aggravating circumstances are overwhelming."
"Heinous and atrocious doesn't begin to describe what Chris Newsom suffered. Channon Christian either."
"Why were they killed?" he asks. "They knew too much."
October 30, 2009 - 9:37am
"I'm going to ask you to spare the life of Lemaricus Davidson," Trant says.
"I'm going to ask you to do it for that little boy who waited at the courthouse for his mama to pick him up, but she never showed up."
October 30, 2009 - 9:29am
The jury will be deciding between life in prison with or death.
There are currently 89 people on Tennessee's death row.
"Why would you sentence him to life without parole?" Trant asks.
He talks about the Alice Rhea and the Rudds who testified that Davidson was like a son to them. "They want their son to live," Trant says.
October 30, 2009 - 9:25am
Doug Trant now begins the defense's closing argument.
"We are not talking about excuses," he says. "We're talking about explanations."
Trant reviews the abuse and rejection that Davidson suffered as a child. Criminal, sexual molestation and drugs run in Davidson's family for generations, he says. "No question Lemaricus Davidson was neglected."
October 30, 2009 - 9:18am
Fitzgerald shows that Davidson continued to have opportunities and make choices after going to prison on the aggravated armed robbery conviction.
"The opportunities for the defendant continues," Fitzgerald says, even after the abduction of Christian and Newsom.
At the end, Chris Newsom and Channon Christian had only their lives left, but Davidson took that, says Fitzgerald.
October 30, 2009 - 9:15am
Fitzgerald reminds the jury that Davidson's sister had the same mother and lived in the same home, but that didn't cause her to make the same decisions as Davidson.
The same was with Davidson's uncle. "He had dope problems. He didn't let that get him down," she says.
"But at age 16 he had opportunities that the other two didn't have," she continues.
She tells about the foster parents and the group home that gave him a chance.
"Just obey the rules, Mr. Davidson."
October 30, 2009 - 9:13am
Judge Baumgartner is addressing the jury on what to expect today. After the closing arguments, he tells the jurors, he will give them final instructions.
Takisha Fitzgerald will begin with the state's closing argument.
October 30, 2009 - 9:09am
Court is in session for the final arguments of the penalty phase.
October 30, 2009 - 10:32am
After the jury left, defense attorney Doug Trant raised an objection to part of the jury's instructions. He claimed that Newsom's death cannot be called "mutilation" because that legally requires that the victim's head or limbs are cut off.
That was not the case with either of the victims.
October 30, 2009 - 10:27am
The jury is now being sent to deliberate.
October 30, 2009 - 10:23am
After reading his instructions, the judge reviews the forms the jury must fill out upon deciding the sentence.
October 30, 2009 - 10:13am
Judge Baumgartner explains the jury's choices. One is life, which can come with the possibility of parole after 51 years. Another is life without parole. The final sentence option is the death penalty.
"You are the sole judges," he tells jurors.
October 30, 2009 - 9:53am
Closing arguments are done and the judge is now giving instructions on how they should reach their decision on a sentence.
"You have to decide unanimously, beyond a reasonable doubt, that an aggravating circumstance exists," he says.
October 30, 2009 - 9:50am
"These crimes cry out for the maximum punishment," Price says. "The maximum!"
October 30, 2009 - 9:40am
Leland Price takes up the final closing argument for the state, asking the jury to "use your common sense."
"Everybody has choices," Price says. "And what did he do? He threw those choices away."
"Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, the aggravating circumstances are overwhelming."
"Heinous and atrocious doesn't begin to describe what Chris Newsom suffered. Channon Christian either."
"Why were they killed?" he asks. "They knew too much."
October 30, 2009 - 9:37am
"I'm going to ask you to spare the life of Lemaricus Davidson," Trant says.
"I'm going to ask you to do it for that little boy who waited at the courthouse for his mama to pick him up, but she never showed up."
October 30, 2009 - 9:29am
The jury will be deciding between life in prison with or death.
There are currently 89 people on Tennessee's death row.
"Why would you sentence him to life without parole?" Trant asks.
He talks about the Alice Rhea and the Rudds who testified that Davidson was like a son to them. "They want their son to live," Trant says.
October 30, 2009 - 9:25am
Doug Trant now begins the defense's closing argument.
"We are not talking about excuses," he says. "We're talking about explanations."
Trant reviews the abuse and rejection that Davidson suffered as a child. Criminal, sexual molestation and drugs run in Davidson's family for generations, he says. "No question Lemaricus Davidson was neglected."
October 30, 2009 - 9:18am
Fitzgerald shows that Davidson continued to have opportunities and make choices after going to prison on the aggravated armed robbery conviction.
"The opportunities for the defendant continues," Fitzgerald says, even after the abduction of Christian and Newsom.
At the end, Chris Newsom and Channon Christian had only their lives left, but Davidson took that, says Fitzgerald.
October 30, 2009 - 9:15am
Fitzgerald reminds the jury that Davidson's sister had the same mother and lived in the same home, but that didn't cause her to make the same decisions as Davidson.
The same was with Davidson's uncle. "He had dope problems. He didn't let that get him down," she says.
"But at age 16 he had opportunities that the other two didn't have," she continues.
She tells about the foster parents and the group home that gave him a chance.
"Just obey the rules, Mr. Davidson."
October 30, 2009 - 9:13am
Judge Baumgartner is addressing the jury on what to expect today. After the closing arguments, he tells the jurors, he will give them final instructions.
Takisha Fitzgerald will begin with the state's closing argument.
October 30, 2009 - 9:09am
Court is in session for the final arguments of the penalty phase.
Courtoom Updates On The Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom Trial
October 27, 2009 - 5:06pm
The jury has not gone home yet, but defense attorney Doug Trant tells 6 News it won't be reaching a verdict tonight.
October 27, 2009 - 4:46pm
Judge Baumgartner says he will check with the jurors at around 5:30 to see if they wish to continue deliberating or break for the evening.
He's now called for a recess until then.
October 27, 2009 - 4:39pm
The judge is now reviewing photos of the victims that the lawyers may use during the sentencing phase.
October 27, 2009 - 4:31pm
Judge Baumgartner asks Deena Christian to not make a reference to Chris and Channon as being victimized by defense tactics. They are clearly victims, the judge says, but she should not refer to trial tactics.
October 27, 2009 - 4:23pm
"She was a beautiful young woman with a beautiful soul," Deena Christian says about her daughter. She stops to wipe away tear.
"Neither Channon nor Chris deserved what happened to them," she says.
"Our kids are the victims. They should not have been put on trial here."
"What she had to endure haunts me."
"It breaks my heart to see the pain in Gary and Chase's faces knowing there's nothing I can do."
October 27, 2009 - 4:22pm
This was the first time Chase took the stand to remember his sister. He was too emotional to speak at Letalvis Cobbins' trial.
October 27, 2009 - 4:16pm
"We did everything together. She was truly my best friend," Channon's brother, Chase Christian, says.
"'I love you Chaser,'" he says Channon told him. "Those were the last words I ever heard from my baby sister."
October 27, 2009 - 4:13pm
The jurors have returned to the courtroom because they have a question. They say they're struggling with the difference between aggravated rape and facillitation of rape.
Judge Baumgartner explains what the law says to distinguish the two.
"Look at the elements and then compare; and then make up your mind beyond a reasonable doubt," he says.
October 27, 2009 - 4:09pm
Judge Baumgartner asks Mr. Newsom to take out of his statement anecdotes about weddings Chris was not able to attend and a Halls High School scholarship baseball game.
Also, although Mr. Newsom can say his son was never in serious trouble, he cannot name off the offenses that Davidson has been charged with.
"I just don't want to venture too far beyond where the court says we can go," the judge says.
October 27, 2009 - 4:06pm
Nearly the whole courtroom is crying
October 27, 2009 - 4:03pm
Davidson listens as the family members read their impact statements.
October 27, 2009 - 3:52pm
"I go up to his room from time to time, but (despite all the memories) to me the room is empty," says Hugh Newsom, father of Chris.
Mr. Newsom says he taught his son, just as his father had taught him, to never speak ill of the dead.
"I know without a doubt, as he drew his last breath... that his concern was for Channon."
October 27, 2009 - 3:48pm
"I mourn the loss of Chris and the life he'll never live," says Chris's sister, Andrea Bowers.
October 27, 2009 - 3:38pm
The first person to give her victim impact statement is Mary Newsom, Chris' mother. She tells of how proud she was of him. "I knew what kind of kid he really was." "I have many sleepless nights," she adds.
October 27, 2009 - 3:26pm
As the jury continues its deliberations, family members will be reading their impact statements soon. It's a dry run in the event that the jury finds Davidson guilty and the case moves to a sentencing phase.
We're expecting they will start at around 3:30.
October 27, 2009 - 12:22pm
The families are scheduled to read their impact statements to the judge today at 3:30. This is a sort of rehearsal for the sentencing phase in the event that Davidson should be found guilty.
October 27, 2009 - 12:16pm
Judge Baumgartner show the jury how to use the charge to determine guilt or innocence on each indictment.
He then sends the jury to lunch. He tells jurors he doesn't want them to begin deliberations until after they've eaten lunch.
October 27, 2009 - 12:08pm
"Each of you must decide the case for yourself," the judge tells jurors.
"You must render your verdict with absolute fairness and impartiality."
October 27, 2009 - 11:53am
The judge says the burden of proof is on the state and its proof must be beyond reasonable doubt.
He defines reasonable doubt, telling the jury that "absolute proof is not required, but moral certainty is."
October 27, 2009 - 11:40am
The jury is back. Judge Baumgartner says three pages have been inserted into the instructions being given to the jury.
This is being done because, when there is a reference to more than one sexual assault, the state is required to select just one for the charge.
"Of course it's up to you to decide if any assault has occurred beyond a reasonable doubt," he adds.
October 27, 2009 - 11:31am
The closing arguments have concluded. The judge is now working on some last minute changes to the jury's instructions before he delivers them.
October 27, 2009 - 11:26am
"This is not a 'Law and Order' episode," Price says. "This isn't 'CSI.""
"You have to put it all together. This is real life."
Price tells the jury that the only two people who can really tell what happened aren't here. "Mr. Davidson made sure of that," he says.
October 27, 2009 - 11:24am
About Davidson's interrogation with police, Price asks, "What does a good liar do?"
"He mixes in a little bit of the truth," he answers.
"Sort out the truth from the lies," he tells the jury.
October 27, 2009 - 11:21am
Price shows the jury the two revolvers introduced as evidence. He asks which gun is capable of firing "pop! pop! pop!" in rapid succession. It's Davidson's gun, he says.
October 27, 2009 - 11:17am
Price calls the stories told by defense witnesses Freeman and Bradley as "crazy" and "absurd."
He reminds Bradley told jurors he saw Christian with Davidson in Stacy Lawson's Grand Am, but that weekend she was already in Kentucky.
"Another rabbit hole," Price calls the story.
October 27, 2009 - 11:15am
By Sunday night, Price asks, what did they have?
He describes Newsom and Christian, brutalized and murdered. "They had lost everything."
October 27, 2009 - 11:12am
Price asks what the victims had on Saturday night. They had jobs and bright future, he says.
And what did Davidson have that night? He had no job, no ride, no girlfriend. Lynn Freeman was hounding him for money. The rent man was hounding him for money.
"He had nothing, except a gun."
October 27, 2009 - 11:05am
Leland Price begins with the state's rebuttal. He thanks the jury for serving. "It's a tough case," he says.
Price reminds the jury of Daphne Sutton's testimony. She tried to retrieve some of her items, "and who was it that stopped her?" he asks.
He emphasizes Davidson's reaction. "This is my house!"
October 27, 2009 - 11:00am
Eldridge continues his closing argument. He talks about certainty of guilt. An absolute certainty is not required, but a moral certainty will be, "so you can rest easy at night."
October 27, 2009 - 10:40am
The judge calls for a 10 minute break.
October 27, 2009 - 10:33am
Eldridge continues to point all of the evidence to the "gang from Kentucky." They killed Newsom 100 yards from Davidson's house. They left a body in his house. They fled the state.
Eldridge reminds the jurors Davidson left his identification in his house. He claims Davidson only lied during his interrogation out of his fear of police.
October 27, 2009 - 10:19am
"There's no evidence that Davidson killed Christian," Eldridge says.
About the defendant's palm prints being found on the garbage bags, he says, "It's his house!"
"Prints would be on your garbage bags at home, folks."
Eldridge also works to poke holes in the medical examiner's time of death. He tries to show Davidson wasn't in his house at that time.
October 27, 2009 - 10:11am
About the "gang from Kentucky," Eldridge tells the jury that Cobbins used bleach to his DNA. Coleman tried to hide Cobbins' gun.
"Did she know he used it to kill Newsom?" he asks.
But Eldridge also reminds the jury that forensics experts could not put a fix on which gun fired the bullets found in Newsom.
He tells jurors they cannot convict Davidson on Newsom's death based on possibilities.
"You don't send somebody to life in prison or worse," says Eldridge, "because a gun could've been used to kill Chris Newsom."
October 27, 2009 - 10:08am
Gary Christian sits in the front row, rocking back and forth while twirling a small cross in his fingers.
October 27, 2009 - 10:02am
Eldridge turns his attention to Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman. He reminds the jury that Cobbins' DNA was found on Christian.
Did the couple's connection to Davidson put them tragically in contact with the "gang from Kentucky?" Eldridge asks.
October 27, 2009 - 9:56am
"We know that Mr. Davidson and Miss Christian had been seen together by Mr. Bradley," Eldridge says.
"He's absolutely certain," Eldridge adds, while noting that Bradley didn't want to be in the courtroom to testify. He discounts the prosecution's observation that the car Bradley says he saw wasn't in Knoxville at that time.
"Is it possible they were supposed to bring drugs to party?" Eldridge asks.
At that point, Christian's friend, Kara Sowards, leaves the courtroom.
October 27, 2009 - 9:52am
Eldridge reminds the jury there was no proof offered that Christian was raped repeatedly or that she was killed before 2 a.m. Monday.
He calls these parts of the state's "made up story."
October 27, 2009 - 9:47am
Eldridge tries to poke holes in prosecution testimony by pointing to parts of the prosecution's narrative that are not supported by evidence it presented.
One example cited by Eldridge is the testimony of Xavier Jenkins, who says he saw four black men in Christian's SUV. Later, the state says Newsom may have been bound in the back, but there's no evidence of that.
These are stories, Eldridge tells the jury, not proof.
October 27, 2009 - 9:45am
"The absence of clarity is reasonable doubt," Eldridge says.
October 27, 2009 - 9:40am
David Eldridge begins the defense's closing argument by quoting John Adams. "Facts are stubborn things," he says.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a case in which passions are high," he continues.
Eldridge also tells the jury that there is nothing about the allegations of drug use the defense has made that makes the crimes any less horrible.
October 27, 2009 - 9:37am
Family members and friends wearing red today.
October 27, 2009 - 9:31am
The judge has entered the courtroom. He is explaining that a meeting with lawyers in his office was the cause of the long delay.
He says Fitzgerald argued that there was potentially more than one sexual assault. But the indictment defines specific acts, so there was discussion on how to frame that in the judge's instructions to the jury.
October 27, 2009 - 9:16am
The Christian family is in red today, just as the Newsom family was yesterday.
Davidson's ex-girlfriend testified he hated red. Is it a gang thing?
October 27, 2009 - 9:12am
We are still awaiting the judge to enter the courtroom.
The defense is scheduled to give its closing argument, then the state will be given time for a rebuttal.
After that, Judge Baumgartner will give the jury its final instructions and it will begin deliberations on a verdict.
The jury has not gone home yet, but defense attorney Doug Trant tells 6 News it won't be reaching a verdict tonight.
October 27, 2009 - 4:46pm
Judge Baumgartner says he will check with the jurors at around 5:30 to see if they wish to continue deliberating or break for the evening.
He's now called for a recess until then.
October 27, 2009 - 4:39pm
The judge is now reviewing photos of the victims that the lawyers may use during the sentencing phase.
October 27, 2009 - 4:31pm
Judge Baumgartner asks Deena Christian to not make a reference to Chris and Channon as being victimized by defense tactics. They are clearly victims, the judge says, but she should not refer to trial tactics.
October 27, 2009 - 4:23pm
"She was a beautiful young woman with a beautiful soul," Deena Christian says about her daughter. She stops to wipe away tear.
"Neither Channon nor Chris deserved what happened to them," she says.
"Our kids are the victims. They should not have been put on trial here."
"What she had to endure haunts me."
"It breaks my heart to see the pain in Gary and Chase's faces knowing there's nothing I can do."
October 27, 2009 - 4:22pm
This was the first time Chase took the stand to remember his sister. He was too emotional to speak at Letalvis Cobbins' trial.
October 27, 2009 - 4:16pm
"We did everything together. She was truly my best friend," Channon's brother, Chase Christian, says.
"'I love you Chaser,'" he says Channon told him. "Those were the last words I ever heard from my baby sister."
October 27, 2009 - 4:13pm
The jurors have returned to the courtroom because they have a question. They say they're struggling with the difference between aggravated rape and facillitation of rape.
Judge Baumgartner explains what the law says to distinguish the two.
"Look at the elements and then compare; and then make up your mind beyond a reasonable doubt," he says.
October 27, 2009 - 4:09pm
Judge Baumgartner asks Mr. Newsom to take out of his statement anecdotes about weddings Chris was not able to attend and a Halls High School scholarship baseball game.
Also, although Mr. Newsom can say his son was never in serious trouble, he cannot name off the offenses that Davidson has been charged with.
"I just don't want to venture too far beyond where the court says we can go," the judge says.
October 27, 2009 - 4:06pm
Nearly the whole courtroom is crying
October 27, 2009 - 4:03pm
Davidson listens as the family members read their impact statements.
October 27, 2009 - 3:52pm
"I go up to his room from time to time, but (despite all the memories) to me the room is empty," says Hugh Newsom, father of Chris.
Mr. Newsom says he taught his son, just as his father had taught him, to never speak ill of the dead.
"I know without a doubt, as he drew his last breath... that his concern was for Channon."
October 27, 2009 - 3:48pm
"I mourn the loss of Chris and the life he'll never live," says Chris's sister, Andrea Bowers.
October 27, 2009 - 3:38pm
The first person to give her victim impact statement is Mary Newsom, Chris' mother. She tells of how proud she was of him. "I knew what kind of kid he really was." "I have many sleepless nights," she adds.
October 27, 2009 - 3:26pm
As the jury continues its deliberations, family members will be reading their impact statements soon. It's a dry run in the event that the jury finds Davidson guilty and the case moves to a sentencing phase.
We're expecting they will start at around 3:30.
October 27, 2009 - 12:22pm
The families are scheduled to read their impact statements to the judge today at 3:30. This is a sort of rehearsal for the sentencing phase in the event that Davidson should be found guilty.
October 27, 2009 - 12:16pm
Judge Baumgartner show the jury how to use the charge to determine guilt or innocence on each indictment.
He then sends the jury to lunch. He tells jurors he doesn't want them to begin deliberations until after they've eaten lunch.
October 27, 2009 - 12:08pm
"Each of you must decide the case for yourself," the judge tells jurors.
"You must render your verdict with absolute fairness and impartiality."
October 27, 2009 - 11:53am
The judge says the burden of proof is on the state and its proof must be beyond reasonable doubt.
He defines reasonable doubt, telling the jury that "absolute proof is not required, but moral certainty is."
October 27, 2009 - 11:40am
The jury is back. Judge Baumgartner says three pages have been inserted into the instructions being given to the jury.
This is being done because, when there is a reference to more than one sexual assault, the state is required to select just one for the charge.
"Of course it's up to you to decide if any assault has occurred beyond a reasonable doubt," he adds.
October 27, 2009 - 11:31am
The closing arguments have concluded. The judge is now working on some last minute changes to the jury's instructions before he delivers them.
October 27, 2009 - 11:26am
"This is not a 'Law and Order' episode," Price says. "This isn't 'CSI.""
"You have to put it all together. This is real life."
Price tells the jury that the only two people who can really tell what happened aren't here. "Mr. Davidson made sure of that," he says.
October 27, 2009 - 11:24am
About Davidson's interrogation with police, Price asks, "What does a good liar do?"
"He mixes in a little bit of the truth," he answers.
"Sort out the truth from the lies," he tells the jury.
October 27, 2009 - 11:21am
Price shows the jury the two revolvers introduced as evidence. He asks which gun is capable of firing "pop! pop! pop!" in rapid succession. It's Davidson's gun, he says.
October 27, 2009 - 11:17am
Price calls the stories told by defense witnesses Freeman and Bradley as "crazy" and "absurd."
He reminds Bradley told jurors he saw Christian with Davidson in Stacy Lawson's Grand Am, but that weekend she was already in Kentucky.
"Another rabbit hole," Price calls the story.
October 27, 2009 - 11:15am
By Sunday night, Price asks, what did they have?
He describes Newsom and Christian, brutalized and murdered. "They had lost everything."
October 27, 2009 - 11:12am
Price asks what the victims had on Saturday night. They had jobs and bright future, he says.
And what did Davidson have that night? He had no job, no ride, no girlfriend. Lynn Freeman was hounding him for money. The rent man was hounding him for money.
"He had nothing, except a gun."
October 27, 2009 - 11:05am
Leland Price begins with the state's rebuttal. He thanks the jury for serving. "It's a tough case," he says.
Price reminds the jury of Daphne Sutton's testimony. She tried to retrieve some of her items, "and who was it that stopped her?" he asks.
He emphasizes Davidson's reaction. "This is my house!"
October 27, 2009 - 11:00am
Eldridge continues his closing argument. He talks about certainty of guilt. An absolute certainty is not required, but a moral certainty will be, "so you can rest easy at night."
October 27, 2009 - 10:40am
The judge calls for a 10 minute break.
October 27, 2009 - 10:33am
Eldridge continues to point all of the evidence to the "gang from Kentucky." They killed Newsom 100 yards from Davidson's house. They left a body in his house. They fled the state.
Eldridge reminds the jurors Davidson left his identification in his house. He claims Davidson only lied during his interrogation out of his fear of police.
October 27, 2009 - 10:19am
"There's no evidence that Davidson killed Christian," Eldridge says.
About the defendant's palm prints being found on the garbage bags, he says, "It's his house!"
"Prints would be on your garbage bags at home, folks."
Eldridge also works to poke holes in the medical examiner's time of death. He tries to show Davidson wasn't in his house at that time.
October 27, 2009 - 10:11am
About the "gang from Kentucky," Eldridge tells the jury that Cobbins used bleach to his DNA. Coleman tried to hide Cobbins' gun.
"Did she know he used it to kill Newsom?" he asks.
But Eldridge also reminds the jury that forensics experts could not put a fix on which gun fired the bullets found in Newsom.
He tells jurors they cannot convict Davidson on Newsom's death based on possibilities.
"You don't send somebody to life in prison or worse," says Eldridge, "because a gun could've been used to kill Chris Newsom."
October 27, 2009 - 10:08am
Gary Christian sits in the front row, rocking back and forth while twirling a small cross in his fingers.
October 27, 2009 - 10:02am
Eldridge turns his attention to Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman. He reminds the jury that Cobbins' DNA was found on Christian.
Did the couple's connection to Davidson put them tragically in contact with the "gang from Kentucky?" Eldridge asks.
October 27, 2009 - 9:56am
"We know that Mr. Davidson and Miss Christian had been seen together by Mr. Bradley," Eldridge says.
"He's absolutely certain," Eldridge adds, while noting that Bradley didn't want to be in the courtroom to testify. He discounts the prosecution's observation that the car Bradley says he saw wasn't in Knoxville at that time.
"Is it possible they were supposed to bring drugs to party?" Eldridge asks.
At that point, Christian's friend, Kara Sowards, leaves the courtroom.
October 27, 2009 - 9:52am
Eldridge reminds the jury there was no proof offered that Christian was raped repeatedly or that she was killed before 2 a.m. Monday.
He calls these parts of the state's "made up story."
October 27, 2009 - 9:47am
Eldridge tries to poke holes in prosecution testimony by pointing to parts of the prosecution's narrative that are not supported by evidence it presented.
One example cited by Eldridge is the testimony of Xavier Jenkins, who says he saw four black men in Christian's SUV. Later, the state says Newsom may have been bound in the back, but there's no evidence of that.
These are stories, Eldridge tells the jury, not proof.
October 27, 2009 - 9:45am
"The absence of clarity is reasonable doubt," Eldridge says.
October 27, 2009 - 9:40am
David Eldridge begins the defense's closing argument by quoting John Adams. "Facts are stubborn things," he says.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a case in which passions are high," he continues.
Eldridge also tells the jury that there is nothing about the allegations of drug use the defense has made that makes the crimes any less horrible.
October 27, 2009 - 9:37am
Family members and friends wearing red today.
October 27, 2009 - 9:31am
The judge has entered the courtroom. He is explaining that a meeting with lawyers in his office was the cause of the long delay.
He says Fitzgerald argued that there was potentially more than one sexual assault. But the indictment defines specific acts, so there was discussion on how to frame that in the judge's instructions to the jury.
October 27, 2009 - 9:16am
The Christian family is in red today, just as the Newsom family was yesterday.
Davidson's ex-girlfriend testified he hated red. Is it a gang thing?
October 27, 2009 - 9:12am
We are still awaiting the judge to enter the courtroom.
The defense is scheduled to give its closing argument, then the state will be given time for a rebuttal.
After that, Judge Baumgartner will give the jury its final instructions and it will begin deliberations on a verdict.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Courtroom Updates From The Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom Trial
Starts At The Bottom
October 26, 2009 - 4:51pm
The jury is dismissed.
October 26, 2009 - 4:49pm
The judge is considering putting the defense closing on hold. He checks with the jury and the consensus is to hear the defense's closing argument tomorrow.
He acknowledges it would be tempting to deliberate on just what they've heard today, but he reminds them they need to wait until they hear the rest tomorrow.
October 26, 2009 - 4:40pm
Fitzgerald tells the jury the defense can say what they want about the couple. It doesn't matter what the accusations are. They are made by people who don't know them.
"It doesn't matter what name you call me," she says, "it matters what name I answer to."
"It wasn't a drug deal gone bad, but it doesn't matter. The family knows better."
"You can think they were dope doers. We don't care. We just want justice."
October 26, 2009 - 4:37pm
Fitzgerald uses Davidson's own words against him. She plays his statement where he says, "I never seen them in my life. Never been in my house before."
October 26, 2009 - 4:24pm
"What we have to do is prove the elements of these crimes beyond a reasonable doubt," Fitzgerald tells the jury.
"There's no way that with four defendants we're going to tell you exactly what happened." But, Fitzgerald adds, the state does not have to do that because of the criminal responsibility they bear.
If he has the intent to rob the couple, it doesn't matter who killed them.
"We think our strongest proof is on premeditation," she says. "We know they wanted him dead."
October 26, 2009 - 4:17pm
Fitzgerald contends Davidson used Newsom's cell phone 25 minutes after he's shot to death.
October 26, 2009 - 4:14pm
As his parents listen, Fitzgerald describing what likely happened to Chris Newsom in the final moments of his life.
October 26, 2009 - 4:00pm
Fitzgerald points out several of the lies Davidson gave to police when they interviewed him following his arrest.
He said he never touched Christian, but his DNA was all over her.
Fitzgerald also reminds the jury that there are no records of phone calls between the victims and Davidson. She strikes down the defense theory that they were in the neighborhood to buy drugs.
October 26, 2009 - 3:53pm
Davidson calls several of Suttons friends on Sunday afternoon, still looking for her. Her friends call each other.
On Sunday evening, he talks to Sutton and she goes to Chipman Street. Davidson give Christian's clothes to Sutton. She leaves. Then she calls him and he shows in a 4Runner.
Fitzgerald reminds the jury of Sutton's statement that he stays with her Monday night. She says he was wearing Nike Shox shoes that were too small for him.
October 26, 2009 - 3:46pm
Fitzgerald reminds the jury that at 3:13 a.m. Davidson tries to track down his ex-girlfriend, Daphne Sutton.
Freeman calls Davidson on Sunday morning. "Slow down," she says.
What was Davidson doing, Fitzgerald wonders?
In the meantime, from the cell phone records, Christian's voice mail is checked. If she was able to use her phone, why didn't she phone home? Why didn't she phone Newsom?
Fitzgerald reminds the jury that Christian was dependable, responsible and loved her mother.
October 26, 2009 - 3:32pm
Fitzgerald spends some time to deconstruct and debunk the statements of the defense witnesses. She uses a timeline to show that at 9:02 p.m. Newsom called Christian. That refutes Freeman's account of seeing the couple at an Exxon state between 9 and 10.
The couple was expected to arrive at a party at 10, but they don't arrive.
Fitzgerald points out that a Waste Connections worker testified seeing her 4Runner around midnight on Chipman Street. He says he saw four black men in it.
October 26, 2009 - 3:21pm
Fitzgerald describes the condition of Chris Newsom's body. He was Rape, then moved to the railroad tracks where he was shot three times and set on fire.
Floral fabric found on his body is the same as what was found in the Chipman Street house. He was shot by bullets consistent with the gun Davidson had.
Newsom's ball caps were found in the house.
We know that Channon Christian was held in the house and raped multiple times. Davidson's DNA was found on her. She was also brutally beaten.
Davidson's DNA was also found on her clothing and hits prints were found on the garbage bags that wrapped her body.
October 26, 2009 - 3:15pm
Takisha Fitzgerald has begun the state's closing argument.
"What happened to Chris and Channon? That's what everyone wants to know," she says as she begins to layout the state's version of what happened.
October 26, 2009 - 3:03pm
Judge Baumgartner said he's set no time limit on the lawyers for their closing arguments. The best guess is both sides will take an hour. If so, then the jury likely won't begin deliberating until tomorrow.
The Cobbins jury spent 6-7 hours deliberating over two days. Davidson faces about the same number of charges as Cobbins did.
Davidson listens as Judge Baumgartner reads the charges against him.
October 26, 2009 - 2:51pm
After an hour of reading the charge, the judge has finished. He's called for a break before the closing arguments begin.
October 26, 2009 - 2:21pm
The courtroom is nearly filled as the judge reads the charge against Davidson
October 26, 2009 - 2:05pm
The verdict form the jurors will use once they've decided on verdicts can be found here. :
http://wate.images.worldnow.com/imag...usDavidson.pdf
It is 41 pages long.
October 26, 2009 - 1:58pm
There are 12 distinct offenses listed in the charge, covering among them first degree, felony, and premeditated murder, aggravated robbery, theft, aggravated rape, and kidnapping.
October 26, 2009 - 1:43pm
The judge is explaining procedures, the law and the charges against Davidson to the jury. The charge is lengthy, nearly 100 pages long. He warns it will take him some time to go through it.
October 26, 2009 - 1:42pm
Judge Baumgartner reminds the audience that they are not to react to what's said.
October 26, 2009 - 1:38pm
There was a long line outside the courtroom of spectators waiting to come in for closing arguments.
October 26, 2009 - 1:36pm
Court is back in session.
October 26, 2009 - 12:52pm
The jury in this case will have a mountain of information to wade through. The jury form is 95 pages. The verdict form is around 20 pages.
October 26, 2009 - 11:54am
Judge Baumgartner says the jury will be given the case today, but won't be able to begin deliberating until tomorrow morning. Closing arguments begin this afternoon at 1:30.
October 26, 2009 - 11:33am
The state rests.
Judge Baumgartner sends the jury to lunch. He says he will take up additional matters with the attorneys before they give their closing arguments.
October 26, 2009 - 11:28am
Kimberly Elkins is brought in to testify about Newsom's bank account at TVA Federal Credit Union. Elkins is a fraud examiner there. She says Newsom withdrew $100 on the night of the abduction and he had more than a $900 balance. The defense asks Elkins that there is no way for her to know if marijuana or amphetamines were bought with the money. She says no.
Another bank official, Barbara Thomas, with First Tennessee, says records show Christian spent $5.05 at Walgreens on Jan 6. 2007 and had more than $200 available in her account.
October 26, 2009 - 11:20am
The state calls Shara Johnson, an employee with Select Specialty Hospitals, to testify about Channon Christian. She was Christian's employment supervisor and is asked about drug testing at the hospital.
Johnson says Christian's test was negative except for oxycodone. The defense then objects to questioning related to a car wreck, so Johnson is dismissed.
October 26, 2009 - 11:10am
The first rebuttal witness called by the state is Josh Shafer, a drug crimes investigator with the Knoxville Police Department. Takisha Fitzgerald asks Shaffer about where different types of drugs are sold in the Knoxville area.
He says pills are typically sold in north and and west of the UT campus. Crack cocaine is sold in East Knoxville. Marijuana is sold everywhere.
October 26, 2009 - 11:08am
The defense rests after introducing the record of Cobbins' conviction in New York.
October 26, 2009 - 11:05am
The judge has allowed the defense motion to introduce Cobbins' prior robbery conviction in New York.
October 26, 2009 - 10:59am
Judge Baumgartner asks Davidson if he wants to testify. Davidson answers that he agrees with his lawyer's advice and has decided not to testify.
October 26, 2009 - 10:37am
The court is taking a break.
October 26, 2009 - 10:33am
Is STR any less accurate than YSTR testing, a juror asks?
Lewis says neither test is any less accurate. They just look at different evidence.
October 26, 2009 - 10:29am
Is it possible that the DNA profiles that were not identified came from skin cells, Leland Price asks?
Lewis says it's possible.
Could the sample have been contaminated by the handling of the underwear?
"It's possible," she says.
He testimony was not on sperm DNA, just unknown male DNA.
October 26, 2009 - 10:15am
The independent lab did not do any tests to verify the presence of semen.
October 26, 2009 - 10:07am
Lewis says there was not evidence of Davidon's DNA on the underwear using the YSTR profile testing used by the lab. There were unidentified contributors.
The tests on DNA taken from the rectal swab of Newsom also didn't show Davidson's DNA, she says.
October 26, 2009 - 10:02am
DNA analyst Kelli Lewis is now on the stand for the defense. She is testifying on tests performed on samples found on Channon Christian underwear.
October 26, 2009 - 9:46am
Defense attorney David Eldridge has asked Carlisle a lot of questions about how long drugs remain in the body. It seems the defense wishes to show that the victims could have taken drugs and have them not show up in toxicology tests.
In her cross examination, Takisha Fitzgerald asks Carlisle if being high on drugs would prevent feeling of pain from raped or shot.
Carlisle answers no.
October 26, 2009 - 9:44am
A source tells me Davidson will not testify in his own defense.
October 26, 2009 - 9:39am
The defense has called Melanie Carlisle, a TBI toxicology expert, to testify.
October 26, 2009 - 9:31am
The judge says his gut reaction is that the evidence does not apply, but he will not rule on the motion until later.
He also says the reluctant witness will not be testifying.
October 26, 2009 - 9:26am
Judge Baumgartner says Cobbins hasn't testified in this case.
"I don't understand what rule would permit the introduction of evidence of someone who is not a witness in this case," the judge says.
He also points out that he excluded that evidence in Cobbins' trial.
October 26, 2009 - 9:22am
The defense motions to introduce evidence that Davidson's brother, Letalvis Cobbins, was convicted in New York on an armed robbery charge.
The state objects, saying there's no relevance that prior bad acts show evidence other crimes have been committed.
October 26, 2009 - 9:21am
Court is in session. Day 7 in the Davidson trial begins.
October 26, 2009 - 9:12am
I'm hearing there is a change in the jury makeup. A female juror became ill yesterday. She'll be replaced this morning by an alternate juror.
October 26, 2009 - 9:04am
Davidson has entered the courtroom.
Attorney Mike Whalen is also in the courtroom. He represents the reluctant witness.
October 26, 2009 - 8:55am
We don't have any word yet on whether or not Davidson has decided to testify in his own defense. He will have to give his decision to Judge Baumgartner today.
Also, we expect to hear the judge's decision on a motion regarding a reluctant defense witness.
October 26, 2009 - 4:51pm
The jury is dismissed.
October 26, 2009 - 4:49pm
The judge is considering putting the defense closing on hold. He checks with the jury and the consensus is to hear the defense's closing argument tomorrow.
He acknowledges it would be tempting to deliberate on just what they've heard today, but he reminds them they need to wait until they hear the rest tomorrow.
October 26, 2009 - 4:40pm
Fitzgerald tells the jury the defense can say what they want about the couple. It doesn't matter what the accusations are. They are made by people who don't know them.
"It doesn't matter what name you call me," she says, "it matters what name I answer to."
"It wasn't a drug deal gone bad, but it doesn't matter. The family knows better."
"You can think they were dope doers. We don't care. We just want justice."
October 26, 2009 - 4:37pm
Fitzgerald uses Davidson's own words against him. She plays his statement where he says, "I never seen them in my life. Never been in my house before."
October 26, 2009 - 4:24pm
"What we have to do is prove the elements of these crimes beyond a reasonable doubt," Fitzgerald tells the jury.
"There's no way that with four defendants we're going to tell you exactly what happened." But, Fitzgerald adds, the state does not have to do that because of the criminal responsibility they bear.
If he has the intent to rob the couple, it doesn't matter who killed them.
"We think our strongest proof is on premeditation," she says. "We know they wanted him dead."
October 26, 2009 - 4:17pm
Fitzgerald contends Davidson used Newsom's cell phone 25 minutes after he's shot to death.
October 26, 2009 - 4:14pm
As his parents listen, Fitzgerald describing what likely happened to Chris Newsom in the final moments of his life.
October 26, 2009 - 4:00pm
Fitzgerald points out several of the lies Davidson gave to police when they interviewed him following his arrest.
He said he never touched Christian, but his DNA was all over her.
Fitzgerald also reminds the jury that there are no records of phone calls between the victims and Davidson. She strikes down the defense theory that they were in the neighborhood to buy drugs.
October 26, 2009 - 3:53pm
Davidson calls several of Suttons friends on Sunday afternoon, still looking for her. Her friends call each other.
On Sunday evening, he talks to Sutton and she goes to Chipman Street. Davidson give Christian's clothes to Sutton. She leaves. Then she calls him and he shows in a 4Runner.
Fitzgerald reminds the jury of Sutton's statement that he stays with her Monday night. She says he was wearing Nike Shox shoes that were too small for him.
October 26, 2009 - 3:46pm
Fitzgerald reminds the jury that at 3:13 a.m. Davidson tries to track down his ex-girlfriend, Daphne Sutton.
Freeman calls Davidson on Sunday morning. "Slow down," she says.
What was Davidson doing, Fitzgerald wonders?
In the meantime, from the cell phone records, Christian's voice mail is checked. If she was able to use her phone, why didn't she phone home? Why didn't she phone Newsom?
Fitzgerald reminds the jury that Christian was dependable, responsible and loved her mother.
October 26, 2009 - 3:32pm
Fitzgerald spends some time to deconstruct and debunk the statements of the defense witnesses. She uses a timeline to show that at 9:02 p.m. Newsom called Christian. That refutes Freeman's account of seeing the couple at an Exxon state between 9 and 10.
The couple was expected to arrive at a party at 10, but they don't arrive.
Fitzgerald points out that a Waste Connections worker testified seeing her 4Runner around midnight on Chipman Street. He says he saw four black men in it.
October 26, 2009 - 3:21pm
Fitzgerald describes the condition of Chris Newsom's body. He was Rape, then moved to the railroad tracks where he was shot three times and set on fire.
Floral fabric found on his body is the same as what was found in the Chipman Street house. He was shot by bullets consistent with the gun Davidson had.
Newsom's ball caps were found in the house.
We know that Channon Christian was held in the house and raped multiple times. Davidson's DNA was found on her. She was also brutally beaten.
Davidson's DNA was also found on her clothing and hits prints were found on the garbage bags that wrapped her body.
October 26, 2009 - 3:15pm
Takisha Fitzgerald has begun the state's closing argument.
"What happened to Chris and Channon? That's what everyone wants to know," she says as she begins to layout the state's version of what happened.
October 26, 2009 - 3:03pm
Judge Baumgartner said he's set no time limit on the lawyers for their closing arguments. The best guess is both sides will take an hour. If so, then the jury likely won't begin deliberating until tomorrow.
The Cobbins jury spent 6-7 hours deliberating over two days. Davidson faces about the same number of charges as Cobbins did.
Davidson listens as Judge Baumgartner reads the charges against him.
October 26, 2009 - 2:51pm
After an hour of reading the charge, the judge has finished. He's called for a break before the closing arguments begin.
October 26, 2009 - 2:21pm
The courtroom is nearly filled as the judge reads the charge against Davidson
October 26, 2009 - 2:05pm
The verdict form the jurors will use once they've decided on verdicts can be found here. :
http://wate.images.worldnow.com/imag...usDavidson.pdf
It is 41 pages long.
October 26, 2009 - 1:58pm
There are 12 distinct offenses listed in the charge, covering among them first degree, felony, and premeditated murder, aggravated robbery, theft, aggravated rape, and kidnapping.
October 26, 2009 - 1:43pm
The judge is explaining procedures, the law and the charges against Davidson to the jury. The charge is lengthy, nearly 100 pages long. He warns it will take him some time to go through it.
October 26, 2009 - 1:42pm
Judge Baumgartner reminds the audience that they are not to react to what's said.
October 26, 2009 - 1:38pm
There was a long line outside the courtroom of spectators waiting to come in for closing arguments.
October 26, 2009 - 1:36pm
Court is back in session.
October 26, 2009 - 12:52pm
The jury in this case will have a mountain of information to wade through. The jury form is 95 pages. The verdict form is around 20 pages.
October 26, 2009 - 11:54am
Judge Baumgartner says the jury will be given the case today, but won't be able to begin deliberating until tomorrow morning. Closing arguments begin this afternoon at 1:30.
October 26, 2009 - 11:33am
The state rests.
Judge Baumgartner sends the jury to lunch. He says he will take up additional matters with the attorneys before they give their closing arguments.
October 26, 2009 - 11:28am
Kimberly Elkins is brought in to testify about Newsom's bank account at TVA Federal Credit Union. Elkins is a fraud examiner there. She says Newsom withdrew $100 on the night of the abduction and he had more than a $900 balance. The defense asks Elkins that there is no way for her to know if marijuana or amphetamines were bought with the money. She says no.
Another bank official, Barbara Thomas, with First Tennessee, says records show Christian spent $5.05 at Walgreens on Jan 6. 2007 and had more than $200 available in her account.
October 26, 2009 - 11:20am
The state calls Shara Johnson, an employee with Select Specialty Hospitals, to testify about Channon Christian. She was Christian's employment supervisor and is asked about drug testing at the hospital.
Johnson says Christian's test was negative except for oxycodone. The defense then objects to questioning related to a car wreck, so Johnson is dismissed.
October 26, 2009 - 11:10am
The first rebuttal witness called by the state is Josh Shafer, a drug crimes investigator with the Knoxville Police Department. Takisha Fitzgerald asks Shaffer about where different types of drugs are sold in the Knoxville area.
He says pills are typically sold in north and and west of the UT campus. Crack cocaine is sold in East Knoxville. Marijuana is sold everywhere.
October 26, 2009 - 11:08am
The defense rests after introducing the record of Cobbins' conviction in New York.
October 26, 2009 - 11:05am
The judge has allowed the defense motion to introduce Cobbins' prior robbery conviction in New York.
October 26, 2009 - 10:59am
Judge Baumgartner asks Davidson if he wants to testify. Davidson answers that he agrees with his lawyer's advice and has decided not to testify.
October 26, 2009 - 10:37am
The court is taking a break.
October 26, 2009 - 10:33am
Is STR any less accurate than YSTR testing, a juror asks?
Lewis says neither test is any less accurate. They just look at different evidence.
October 26, 2009 - 10:29am
Is it possible that the DNA profiles that were not identified came from skin cells, Leland Price asks?
Lewis says it's possible.
Could the sample have been contaminated by the handling of the underwear?
"It's possible," she says.
He testimony was not on sperm DNA, just unknown male DNA.
October 26, 2009 - 10:15am
The independent lab did not do any tests to verify the presence of semen.
October 26, 2009 - 10:07am
Lewis says there was not evidence of Davidon's DNA on the underwear using the YSTR profile testing used by the lab. There were unidentified contributors.
The tests on DNA taken from the rectal swab of Newsom also didn't show Davidson's DNA, she says.
October 26, 2009 - 10:02am
DNA analyst Kelli Lewis is now on the stand for the defense. She is testifying on tests performed on samples found on Channon Christian underwear.
October 26, 2009 - 9:46am
Defense attorney David Eldridge has asked Carlisle a lot of questions about how long drugs remain in the body. It seems the defense wishes to show that the victims could have taken drugs and have them not show up in toxicology tests.
In her cross examination, Takisha Fitzgerald asks Carlisle if being high on drugs would prevent feeling of pain from raped or shot.
Carlisle answers no.
October 26, 2009 - 9:44am
A source tells me Davidson will not testify in his own defense.
October 26, 2009 - 9:39am
The defense has called Melanie Carlisle, a TBI toxicology expert, to testify.
October 26, 2009 - 9:31am
The judge says his gut reaction is that the evidence does not apply, but he will not rule on the motion until later.
He also says the reluctant witness will not be testifying.
October 26, 2009 - 9:26am
Judge Baumgartner says Cobbins hasn't testified in this case.
"I don't understand what rule would permit the introduction of evidence of someone who is not a witness in this case," the judge says.
He also points out that he excluded that evidence in Cobbins' trial.
October 26, 2009 - 9:22am
The defense motions to introduce evidence that Davidson's brother, Letalvis Cobbins, was convicted in New York on an armed robbery charge.
The state objects, saying there's no relevance that prior bad acts show evidence other crimes have been committed.
October 26, 2009 - 9:21am
Court is in session. Day 7 in the Davidson trial begins.
October 26, 2009 - 9:12am
I'm hearing there is a change in the jury makeup. A female juror became ill yesterday. She'll be replaced this morning by an alternate juror.
October 26, 2009 - 9:04am
Davidson has entered the courtroom.
Attorney Mike Whalen is also in the courtroom. He represents the reluctant witness.
October 26, 2009 - 8:55am
We don't have any word yet on whether or not Davidson has decided to testify in his own defense. He will have to give his decision to Judge Baumgartner today.
Also, we expect to hear the judge's decision on a motion regarding a reluctant defense witness.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Courtroom Updates From The Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom Murder Trial
October 24, 2009 - 12:46pm
Judge Baumgartner is calling for a break for the day. The court will not be in session tomorrow.
He concludes by saying, "Go Vols!"
October 24, 2009 - 12:40pm
Price reads off several different crimes and asked Bradley if he's the person who was convicted of the crimes. Bradley says he is. The crimes include felony theft and unauthorized use of a credit card. One of the crimes happened just 19 days ago.
October 24, 2009 - 12:28pm
Bradley says when he saw Davidson and the female he's identified as Christian, the woman was shorter than Davidson. The other woman "wasn't real skinny." The arrived in a teal Grand Am.
He turned around and they walked so quickly he never saw them go in the house.
Bradley says Davidson was holding the woman's shoulder.
Price points out that there was previous testimony that a teal Grand Am was in Kentucky on the weekend of the murders.
October 24, 2009 - 12:23pm
In cross examination by the state, Bradley says he saw Davidson just one other time.
He says on the night he saw the 4Runner it was there with two doors open and a police car with its light on, but he didn't see any other vehicles there.
October 24, 2009 - 12:21pm
Bradley admits to being convicted of misdemeanor theft charges.
October 24, 2009 - 12:16pm
The defense calls Jeffrey Bradley, a resident on Chipman Street.
He says he saw police around the 4Runner SUV on Sunday. He says a night or two before that he was looking for his mother's cat and saw Davidson get out of a car. He says Channon Christian and another female also get out of the car.
He says they went into the house.
Later, he identified Davidson and Christian when shown pictures of them in the police station.
October 24, 2009 - 12:09pm
The judge tells the jury to take a break.
October 24, 2009 - 12:04pm
The jury has several similar questions for Freeman, so he summarizes. Does she remember what the couple was wearing that night?
No, she says.
Did Channon and Chris appear to be by themselves? She says she didn't see anyone else.
Did they appear to be under stress? No.
October 24, 2009 - 11:59am
Freeman repeats that she saw Christian and Newsom at the Exxon station between 9:30 and 10:00 on the Saturday they were abducted. They asked her for gas money, but she notes, they didn't look like they needed money.
October 24, 2009 - 11:55am
Fitzgerald brings into evidence of phone records showing Freeman called Davidson at around 3 a.m. Sunday, the night of the abduction. The call lasts for just under two minutes.
October 24, 2009 - 11:48am
When Freeman got home, she says, Davidson called her. She told him to come by her apartment with the money in the afternoon, but he didn't.
On Monday she went by the house, but when she saw some police looking around she went home.
On Tuesday she learned there was a body found in the house. She says she called Sutton.
October 24, 2009 - 11:44am
When Freeman arrives on Chipman Street she says she saw George Thomas walking down the street.
"I didn't care for him," she says. "He was, what I would call, creepy."
At that point she went into Rhonda Dukes house and never went to Davidson's house.
She was unable to go home the route she planned because there was a train stopped on the tracks. She says she later learned the train was stopped because a body had been found there.
October 24, 2009 - 11:38am
Freeman says she was expected Davidson to come to her apartment on the night of the abduction, but he didn't show up.
Later, Freeman says, she called Davidson. She says he didn't sound like himself, like he was busy. She told him he needed to slow down.
Freeman says Davidson promised to make the payment on Sunday, but he didn't.
On Sunday morning she went to Davidson's house on Chipman Street.
October 24, 2009 - 11:32am
The state is now asking Freeman questions about knowing Davidson, Cobbins, Thomas, and some of the others who have been associated with Davidson. She says they helped her move into her apartment at Washington Ridge Apartments.
She sold some of the furniture to Davidson, but he didn't have enough money to pay for it. "We had a payment arrangement," she said.
She also gave him several items, including some items for Sutton's kids.
Judge Baumgartner is calling for a break for the day. The court will not be in session tomorrow.
He concludes by saying, "Go Vols!"
October 24, 2009 - 12:40pm
Price reads off several different crimes and asked Bradley if he's the person who was convicted of the crimes. Bradley says he is. The crimes include felony theft and unauthorized use of a credit card. One of the crimes happened just 19 days ago.
October 24, 2009 - 12:28pm
Bradley says when he saw Davidson and the female he's identified as Christian, the woman was shorter than Davidson. The other woman "wasn't real skinny." The arrived in a teal Grand Am.
He turned around and they walked so quickly he never saw them go in the house.
Bradley says Davidson was holding the woman's shoulder.
Price points out that there was previous testimony that a teal Grand Am was in Kentucky on the weekend of the murders.
October 24, 2009 - 12:23pm
In cross examination by the state, Bradley says he saw Davidson just one other time.
He says on the night he saw the 4Runner it was there with two doors open and a police car with its light on, but he didn't see any other vehicles there.
October 24, 2009 - 12:21pm
Bradley admits to being convicted of misdemeanor theft charges.
October 24, 2009 - 12:16pm
The defense calls Jeffrey Bradley, a resident on Chipman Street.
He says he saw police around the 4Runner SUV on Sunday. He says a night or two before that he was looking for his mother's cat and saw Davidson get out of a car. He says Channon Christian and another female also get out of the car.
He says they went into the house.
Later, he identified Davidson and Christian when shown pictures of them in the police station.
October 24, 2009 - 12:09pm
The judge tells the jury to take a break.
October 24, 2009 - 12:04pm
The jury has several similar questions for Freeman, so he summarizes. Does she remember what the couple was wearing that night?
No, she says.
Did Channon and Chris appear to be by themselves? She says she didn't see anyone else.
Did they appear to be under stress? No.
October 24, 2009 - 11:59am
Freeman repeats that she saw Christian and Newsom at the Exxon station between 9:30 and 10:00 on the Saturday they were abducted. They asked her for gas money, but she notes, they didn't look like they needed money.
October 24, 2009 - 11:55am
Fitzgerald brings into evidence of phone records showing Freeman called Davidson at around 3 a.m. Sunday, the night of the abduction. The call lasts for just under two minutes.
October 24, 2009 - 11:48am
When Freeman got home, she says, Davidson called her. She told him to come by her apartment with the money in the afternoon, but he didn't.
On Monday she went by the house, but when she saw some police looking around she went home.
On Tuesday she learned there was a body found in the house. She says she called Sutton.
October 24, 2009 - 11:44am
When Freeman arrives on Chipman Street she says she saw George Thomas walking down the street.
"I didn't care for him," she says. "He was, what I would call, creepy."
At that point she went into Rhonda Dukes house and never went to Davidson's house.
She was unable to go home the route she planned because there was a train stopped on the tracks. She says she later learned the train was stopped because a body had been found there.
October 24, 2009 - 11:38am
Freeman says she was expected Davidson to come to her apartment on the night of the abduction, but he didn't show up.
Later, Freeman says, she called Davidson. She says he didn't sound like himself, like he was busy. She told him he needed to slow down.
Freeman says Davidson promised to make the payment on Sunday, but he didn't.
On Sunday morning she went to Davidson's house on Chipman Street.
October 24, 2009 - 11:32am
The state is now asking Freeman questions about knowing Davidson, Cobbins, Thomas, and some of the others who have been associated with Davidson. She says they helped her move into her apartment at Washington Ridge Apartments.
She sold some of the furniture to Davidson, but he didn't have enough money to pay for it. "We had a payment arrangement," she said.
She also gave him several items, including some items for Sutton's kids.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Diversity Is Strength! It’s also…Minority Jury Nullification.
The original article is located here and is a better read since it includes many hyperlinks, the following is just an excerpt.
By Nicholas Stix
"What do you have to do today to get the death penalty?" asked Channon Christian’s father incredulously.
Letalvis Cobbins, a black man, was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering the 21-year-old white girl in the January 2007 Knoxville Horror. And yet the jurors sentenced him to "life without parole". [Letalvis Cobbins found guilty in Christian—Newsom murders, WATE, August 25, 2009.]
Since murderers have been known to be released from prison sentences of "life without parole", and prison is for the most violent black and Hispanic offenders a felon’s paradise, replete with cable TV, weight lifting, and ample opportunities to deal and buy drugs and gang-rape white men, Cobbins’ sentence is both misleading and of dubious punitive value.
The jury’s pretext for not sentencing Cobbins to death for the most heinous crimes ever committed in Knox County: laughable "mitigating" factors, which it asserted outweighed any aggravating factors: "[A] horrific childhood, the pleas of his relatives and his alleged role as subordinate to an evil mastermind".
By Nicholas Stix
"What do you have to do today to get the death penalty?" asked Channon Christian’s father incredulously.
Letalvis Cobbins, a black man, was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering the 21-year-old white girl in the January 2007 Knoxville Horror. And yet the jurors sentenced him to "life without parole". [Letalvis Cobbins found guilty in Christian—Newsom murders, WATE, August 25, 2009.]
Since murderers have been known to be released from prison sentences of "life without parole", and prison is for the most violent black and Hispanic offenders a felon’s paradise, replete with cable TV, weight lifting, and ample opportunities to deal and buy drugs and gang-rape white men, Cobbins’ sentence is both misleading and of dubious punitive value.
The jury’s pretext for not sentencing Cobbins to death for the most heinous crimes ever committed in Knox County: laughable "mitigating" factors, which it asserted outweighed any aggravating factors: "[A] horrific childhood, the pleas of his relatives and his alleged role as subordinate to an evil mastermind".
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