The Murder of Channon Christian/Christopher Newsom

[Mishell1383]

I thought everyone forgot about this case! yayyy!

[Vera]

:rose: In Memory of Channon Christian, age 21.

[Vera]

:rose: In Memory of Christopher Newsom, age 23.

[Vera]

:rose:In Memory of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23. :rose:

[Vera]

:rose: Thinking of Channon Christian's family and all who love and miss her.

[Vera]

:rose: Thinking of Christopher Newsom's family and all who love and miss him

[Vera]

:rose: Thinking of the Christian and Newsom families.

[samanthajane13]

amen!!!!!

[dan_uk]

The four indicted were:

George Geovonni "Detroit" Thomas, 27, faces a total of 46 charges. Thomas was indicted on 16 counts of felony murder growing out of the rape, robbery, kidnapping, and theft of Christian and Newsom, 2 counts of premeditated murder, 2 counts of especially aggravated robbery, 4 counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, 20 counts of aggravated rape, and 2 counts of theft.

Lemaricus Devall "Slim" Davidson, 25, (b. June 13, 1981) faces the same 46 charges as Thomas. Davidson had also completed serving a five-year sentence in Tennessee on a previous felony conviction for carjacking and aggravated robbery on August 5, 2006.

Letalvis "Rome" Cobbins, 24, (b. December 20, 1982) also faces the same 46 charges as Thomas. In 2003, Cobbins was convicted of third-degree attempted robbery in New York state. He and Davidson are brothers. He has also been charged with assaulting a correctional officer while incarcerated pending trial.

Vanessa Coleman, 18, was arrested by police in Lebanon, Kentucky. She faces 40 Tennessee state charges. Coleman was indicted on 12 counts of felony murder growing out of the rape, robbery, kidnapping, and theft of Christian and Newsom, 1 count of premeditated murder (of Christian only), 1 count of especially aggravated robbery (of Newsom only), 4 counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, 20 counts of aggravated rape, and 2 counts of theft.
In each indictment, the large number of rape counts were included to provide a range of options for prosecutors, not to reflect the number of rapes which actually occurred.[13]

Further, Eric DeWayne "E" Boyd, 34, was arrested in connection with the fatal carjacking, though not indicted by the Knox County grand jury. Still, Boyd was charged in federal court as an accessory after the fact for helping the suspects evade the police. Later, Boyd was also accused by Thomas and Cobbins of rape and murder, and a search warrant was obtained for his DNA.[14] The accusations did not result in charges.[15]

[dan_uk]

The four suspects indicted in Knox County were originally scheduled to be tried separately, at trials scheduled between May and August 2008.[16] However, the trial date for the subjects indicted in Knox County was moved back to 2009 in February 2008.[17] In an apparent attempt to force the prosecution to try the case with the least forensic evidence first, the attorneys for Thomas filed a motion for a speedy trial, arguing there was no forensic link between their client and the crime scene.[18] Thomas has been granted the motion and is scheduled to go on trial on August 11th. Judge Baumgartner recently ruled that Thomas' phone calls made from the jailhouse to his acquaintances are admissible as evidence.[19]

District Attorney Randy Nichols has announced that the state would be seeking the death penalty for both Cobbins (currently the first to go to trial) and Coleman if convicted.[20][21] Davidson has also been indicted for a second robbery which was committed after the murders.[16] The publicity against the accused led the defense to argue that a change of venue was required in order to ensure a fair trial. However, the state argued that an impartial jury could be found during voir dire, and the presiding judge subsequently denied the motion as "premature."[22]

The trials are expected to empanel a jury from outside Knox county.

The trial of Letalvis Cobbins has been delayed to June of 2009 by Judge Richard Baumgartner due to one of Cobbins' attorneys facing disciplinary hearings.


Verdicts
On April 16, 2008, Eric Boyd was found guilty in Federal court of being an accessory to a fatal carjacking and for failing to report the location of a known fugitive. [23] Boyd's was the first case to go to trial, and he was the only suspect not charged with murder.[24] He has been sentenced to the maximum of 18 years in Federal prison.[25]

[SaraSidle]

The four suspects indicted in Knox County were originally scheduled to be tried separately, at trials scheduled between May and August 2008.[16] However, the trial date for the subjects indicted in Knox County was moved back to 2009 in February 2008.[17] In an apparent attempt to force the prosecution to try the case with the least forensic evidence first, the attorneys for Thomas filed a motion for a speedy trial, arguing there was no forensic link between their client and the crime scene.[18] Thomas has been granted the motion and is scheduled to go on trial on August 11th. Judge Baumgartner recently ruled that Thomas' phone calls made from the jailhouse to his acquaintances are admissible as evidence.[19]

District Attorney Randy Nichols has announced that the state would be seeking the death penalty for both Cobbins (currently the first to go to trial) and Coleman if convicted.[20][21] Davidson has also been indicted for a second robbery which was committed after the murders.[16] The publicity against the accused led the defense to argue that a change of venue was required in order to ensure a fair trial. However, the state argued that an impartial jury could be found during voir dire, and the presiding judge subsequently denied the motion as "premature."[22]

The trials are expected to empanel a jury from outside Knox county.

The trial of Letalvis Cobbins has been delayed to June of 2009 by Judge Richard Baumgartner due to one of Cobbins' attorneys facing disciplinary hearings.


Verdicts
On April 16, 2008, Eric Boyd was found guilty in Federal court of being an accessory to a fatal carjacking and for failing to report the location of a known fugitive. [23] Boyd's was the first case to go to trial, and he was the only suspect not charged with murder.[24] He has been sentenced to the maximum of 18 years in Federal prison.[25]

thanks Dan

[RayStar]

Anyone know what is happening with the Vanessa Coleman trial that was supposed to start today? I can't find any new info.
OK I must have found an old date. Sorry, I will be pleased when they all get the DP.

[iluvmua]

Hi, Letalvus Cobbins is scheduled to go on trial August 12th, Vanessa Coleman's Trial has not been rescheduled as far as I know.

Potential Jurors have already received their questionnaires.

[SaraSidle]

Hi, Letalvus Cobbins is scheduled to go on trial August 12th, Vanessa Coleman's Trial has not been rescheduled as far as I know.

Potential Jurors have already received their questionnaires.

well that is moving along finally. thanks for the update iluvmua

[RayStar]

The prosecution may rest today in the case of Letalvis Cobbins. This guy is a monster. I don't know how the defense will handle their side. LC has plead guilty to rape and many other charges. He is fighting the murder charge.
No family members of LC have been seen in the courtroom.

There is live viewing of the trial. If you watch be forewarned that it is very graphic and hurts likes HE**!

[Snowbird]

Cobbins-guilty=guilty-guilty *Eligible for death Penalty

Praying he does gets the death penalty. It is way past time for Justice for Channon and Chris.

Hopefully Boyd will now be charged with all these crimes also.

[RayStar]

Well Cobbins got LWOP. The parents felt like the jury let them down.
Davidison should really receive the DP.

[dan_uk]

Anyone know what is happening with the Vanessa Coleman trial that was supposed to start today? I can't find any new info.
OK I must have found an old date. Sorry, I will be pleased when they all get the DP.George Thomas due for trial in October,
Vanessa Coleman trial set for November.

[Mistyrayne]

Cobbins was found guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Such a tragedy for the families as they were hoping for the death penalties. Some here have wondered about the charges, just go to any of the Knoxville, Tn t.v. stations and look around a bit and you'll find out what these animals did to these two kids. I just hope the prisoners take care of Cobbins like he and his 'crew' took care of Channon and Chris. May he have a limited time to endure his sentence through the hands of fellow prisoners. I also hope he doesn't get put in 'protective custody'.

:flamemad:

[RayStar]

I went to Knoxville, TN right after the verdict. I wanted to stop by court house but ran out of time. I still have my copy of the Tennessee Star Journal week of August 26. I was in Sevierville and the talk there was all about this case. Who knows I might try and go back for the Davidison trial. Traffic cops are awful on I-75 which is a real deterrent.

[RayStar]

Lemaricus Davidson was found guilty and given the DP. Two more trials to go.