UPDATEDMurder victims Channon Christian, Christoper Newsom
I just finished watching live streaming on WATE.com out of Knoxville, Tennessee, the hearing regarding granting new trials for the convicted killers (Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman) in the Christian-Newsom murders. Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood granted the defendants new trials.
Occasionally the camera would pan to the parents of the two victims in the gallery. My heart went out to those parents and their extended families who will now have to sit through these trials and hear the gruesome details of what happened to their children all over again.
Blackwood could not contain his anger and disgust in revealing the tawdry details of Judge Richard Baumgartner's criminal actions while presiding over the Christian-Newsome cases. He sounded like an angry preacher at the pulpit. Blackwood, in his summation, stated that Baumgartner (who presided over drug court) knew since 2008 that he was addicted to pain pills. Blackwood stated that Baumgartner could of, at that time, stepped down from the bench but chose to continue taking pills. It's my understanding that the full details of Judge Baumgartner's crimes were initially sealed in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's (TBI) report. It was turned over to the defense attorney's back in September of this year. However, both the prosecution and defense attorney's agreed that the report would be treated as evidence in the hearing. Baumgartner's crimes included (but not limited to) trading drugs from defendant's who came before him in drug court to having sex in his chambers with a prostitute (Castleman) that he bought a phone for and paid some of her bills.
Update:
Some details from the hearing tweeted by WATE.com. (Thanks to my friend Carolina Blue, who also watched the hearing on live stream.)
"Baumgartner's physician, Dr. Dean Conley, tried to wean Baumgartner off his addiction and urged him to retire in 2008. Baumgartner admitted his addiction, but said he needed another three years on the bench."
"The TBI found that during breaks in Davidson's trial, Baumgartner would visit Castleman at St. Mary's Hospital behind closed doors for 15-20 minutes at a time. He told hospital employees he was her attorney."
"Baumgartner's assistant, Jennifer Judy, passed him a note during the Coleman trial when he slumped his head down. It said, "Sit up or get off the bench. You're disrespecting the families." "
UPDATE 12/6/2011:
Thanks to guest writer David in Tennessee, here is a link to a web chat with Knoxville reporter Jamie Satterfield, answering questions about Judge Baumgartner and the upcoming retrials.
Paper seeks to join Christian-Newsom case
Judge Grants New Trials in Christian-Newsome case
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14 comments:
This makes me sick!!!
Ray in Nashville
I am still reeling about this decision. Channon was terrorized over that weekend. (her lip was ripped away from the jaw, she was raped and sodimized, and had cholorox poured down her throat) Then she was hog tied, kicked in her private and stuffed in trash bags before being put in a trash can and left in that can in the kitchen of the tiny house to suffocate.
I can't believe the Christian/Newsome families have to sit through 4 more trials hearing all these horrific events again. The defendants enjoyed themself. Were unphased at trial. Channon's dad had to hear that his daughter called out for him. Baumgartner knew these cases frontward and backward and to me made no decision that harmed the defendants chance of a fair trial nor did he do anything that could've caused the jury to have reasonable doubt had they heard it. I am sick about this.
This time around, I hope Davidson and Thomas get DP again and Coleman's 53 years is made DP and Cobbins LWOP is changed to DP also.
Yep. I am angry.
TigressPen
I wrote a number of articles on these trials for T&T and attended three days of the Coleman trial and two sentencing hearings. Judge Baumgartner nodded off at least once that I saw and sometimes looked out of it.
For the most part he had control of the courtroom. It also must be said that the judge bent over backward to be fair to the defendants.
The first report indicates it will be January before a schedule for the new trials will be announced.
David In TN
David In TN: Did you go the day testimony was heard about Channon being tied up before put in trash bags? Did you get the feeling Coleman was the one who kicked Channon in private when she was being hog tied? I did. I think she was angry over her boyfriend having sex with Channon. And kicked her from that anger.
TigressPen
To TigressPen,
No, I wasn't there when the evidence pertaining to the torture of Channon was presented. I did see it on live stream. Yes, I believe it was Coleman who kicked Channon's private parts.
By the way, a photo today showed Coleman laughing it up with her attorney.
One thing I want is for these upcoming trials to have Knox county juries. Why should we continue to do what Baumgartner did?
David In TN
TigressPen:
Unfortunately, I think they can not be found guilty of a greater offense than they were convicted of in the first trial. Coleman, for instance, can not be sentenced to DP for the relatively minor charges she was convicted of in the first trial. It stinks, but that is how it is. For these pigs, this is an opportunity to lessen their conviction and sentence, with no risk that it will be worse.
Baumgartner should have to forfeit all his pension rights for this. There is absolutely no excuse for his behavior, and he had to know the potential risk of his actions.
Ray in Nashville
I forget. Was it Coleman who wasn't found guilty on any charge connected to Chris being kidnapped and then walked to the railroad track, shot and set on fire? Which I didn't believe. About the only one I believed was the ex-girlfriend who went to the house to collect some of her things and was given Channon's clothes. Seems a new jury would be able to find them guilty of any charge that was against them in trial one.
TigressPen:
Unfortunately that is not how it works. They can not now be convicted of anything they were acquitted of in their first trial. This is a total disaster. These cases are getting the publicity, but there are hundreds or even thousands of other criminals who will now be appealing their convictions. And they will almost certainly win new trials. Here is a link to an article that will do a better job of explaining it for you.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/01/flawed-handling-of-torture-slaying-cases-raises/
Ray in Nashville
I'm pissed!
I am more upset about this than words can say. My main thoughts go to Shannon and Chris's families who have to sit through four more trials.
I am shocked and upset. I feel so bad for Channon and Chris's families.
It is always hard to say that one murder case is worse than another. However, a week after the ruling for new trials in this case I have come to a conclusion which is my own opinion.
When you take into account the horrific nature of the crime, along with the victims being slandered in one of the trials, I believe the Christian-Newsom torture murder case is the worst since I have been following trials. Incidentally, I go back to the Manson trials.
There was no problem with the evidence, no prosecutorial misconduct, no juror misconduct. Despite this, we have to go through four trials yet again.
David In TN
On Wednesday, Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols announced his office would appeal the decision to grant new trials to the four convicted killers.
David In TN
One other thing that just makes me furious is the lack of national coverage of this case. This was a hate crime and the national news just will not cover it. That is a disgrace.
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