David brings us updates on two events related to Vanessa Coleman's second trial. Sprocket
Vanessa Coleman Denied Parole
by
David In Tennessee
On
Wednesday, December 10, 2014, Vanessa Coleman was denied parole for
Facilitation of the rape-murder of Channon Christian. The
torture-murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom took place on the night of January 6-7, 2007. Coleman was convicted a second time in a retrial on November 20, 2012. Judge Blackwood sentenced her to 35 years in prison on February 1, 2013.
Why
was she up for parole so soon? Vanessa Coleman was convicted of facilitation, not murder. Since she was arrested in
January 2007 and remained in custody, Coleman is credited with nearly eight years in prison and
is eligible for parole under Tennessee law.
In a unanimous vote
after a hearing lasting 90 minutes, five members of the panel rejected
the application. One member was absent. Another was too new to the panel
to vote.
Vanessa Coleman's defense at both
trials was she was afraid of the others, one of whom was her boyfriend,
and was herself a prisoner in the death house.
A
major question throughout is why Coleman did not free Christian and
flee on two occasions when she was alone with her inside ringleader
Lemaricus Davidson's house. When questioned at the hearing, Coleman
said; "I'm currently in the appeal process, and I have spoken to my
lawyer, and it was wise for me not to speak."
Coleman's appeal was rejected by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals a
few days before and the Tennessee Supreme Court is unlikely to even look
at the case after two trials.
The main
evidence against Coleman was a diary entry a few days after Christian
and Newsom were tortured, raped (both of them), and murdered. Coleman
wrote of her "adventure in the Big T.N," and how much "she loved her
life." When questioned about this at the hearing, Coleman answered "That
statement had nothing to do with the case, sir, and that's all I can
say."
Davidson was sentenced to death. His
brother and Coleman's boyfriend, Letalvis Cobbins, was sentenced to life
without parole. Cobbins' friend, George Thomas was sentenced to life
with possible parole after 50 years.
Here is a report from WATE, Knoxville's ABC affiliate.
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3 comments:
Thank you David. For once, in this horrible story, no nonsense and a quick definite response by the board. These parents do not have to wait as they have so many times.
Dave, this makes me feel so much better. I was so worried she'd con her way out of prison many years too soon.
I understand that it's normal to not get paroled at the first hearing. I hope this continues until she has completed her entire sentence.
She has zero remorse, one necessary factor in parole. I don't even if she understands what the term "remorse" means.
Ritanita,
Thanks.
I attended both of Vanessa Coleman's trials. Originally, the authorities considered Coleman a possible witness for the prosecution.
However, before a federal grand jury, Coleman was evasive, vague, and not believable. She was trying to protect her boyfriend, Letalvis Cobbins. And herself.
Then, her journal was discovered.
Former Los Angeles County Deputy DA Walt Lewis (whose book I reviewed at T&T) told me by email that you give someone involved in a crime immunity to testify if their involvement was much less than the main suspects and they are truthful.
Vanessa Coleman met neither requirement. She couldn't play the role Linda Kasabian did in the Manson trials.
David In TN
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