Second Christian-Newsom Torture-Murder Trial Starts Monday

GUEST ENTRY from DAVID in TENNESSEE!

The second trial involving the torture-murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom begins on Monday, October 19. The defendant is the alleged ringleader, Lemaricus Davidson. On August 25, Davidson's half-brother, Letalvis Cobbins, was convicted and sentenced to life without parole.

On October 15, an article about the case appeared in a leading British newspaper, the London Daily Mail The article criticizes the U.S. media for ignoring the case, but has some errors. For one thing, East Tennessee is NOT the "deep south." The Knoxville News-Sentinel has the most extensive coverage dating back to January 2007. The articles are archived here.

In my most recent entry, I reported that the defense attorneys accused the Knox County Sheriff's office of copying a letter from Davdson to his attorneys. The defense made a motion to either dismiss the case on the grounds of attorney-client privilege, or remove the prosecutors.

On Thursday, Judge Richard Baumgartner ruled that he would not dismiss the case against Davidson. The judge also said he would not remove the prosecutors. Baumgartner said the letter that was copied was accidental and was not prejudicial to the defense. This was after hearing testimony at Thursday's hearing from the sheriff's department employees.

The judge concluded it was "an inadverdant and unintentional breach." The mail from suspects is routinely monitored because of possible escape plans or threats to witnesses.

In a motions hearing on Friday, the judge ruled that Davidson's defense has a right to bring up DNA evidence that was found on Channon Christian' underwear. According to analysis, they belong to two unknown males, none of which are current defendants or Chris Newsom.

I repeat what I wrote before. The prosecution should ask the defense to produce the names of these two so they can be arrested and charged with participation in the rape and murder. Davidson's DNA was all over Channon Christian along with his fingerprints in her car and elsewhere.

Also on Friday, the judge ruled that photos of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom taken while they were alive will not be allowed during the guilt phase of the trial. The judge is undecided over whether the photos should be allowed in the sentencing phase of the trial. Judge Baumgartner said appellate courts have overturned sentences for pictures that create prejudicial sympathy with a jury.

A female juror has been excused because of a new childcare hardship. She will be replaced by another woman who was one of 6 alternates. Fifteen jurors will report to an undisclosed hotel on Sunday night. Two other alternates will report on Monday morning. At that time, the judge will question jurors to make sure they followed the court order to avoid any exposure to the case. If no more are excused, the judge will excuse two more alternates.

The defense attorneys held a press conference in which they reported death threats to them and their families. Some letters containing threats were turned over to the FBI. The families of the victims have also received death threats.

David From Tennessee

Thank you David, for covering this horrific case for T&T! Sprocket