tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post5883113468276274245..comments2024-02-24T18:44:39.324-08:00Comments on Trials & Tribulations: Death Sentence in Christian-Newsom Torture-Murder TrialSprockethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03837416113512618694noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-45769850675770673092012-01-18T11:28:28.026-08:002012-01-18T11:28:28.026-08:00I'm a little late coming into this discussion ...I'm a little late coming into this discussion but I had not heard of this case until I saw a "48 Hours ID" and then did some research on the internet. <br /><br />I've read some pretty horrific cases before, but for the life of me I cannot fathom how it is that carjacking can lead to such heinous torture of two innocent kids. What is it in human nature that there seems to be no conscience for inflicting such terror and harm to people? How is that line crossed? <br /><br />Vanessa Coleman hd to have known what was happening and had so many opportunities to call the authorities and never did. She never offered that poor girl food and claimed she never screamed. I can only conclude that she felt that Channon deserved it. Well, Vanessa deserves to be in prison for the rest of her life and shame on her parents. I don't know how they can look at themselves in the mirror for even pretending that these kids had any part in their murders. Thank you for this blog, it is well written, well researched and I am grateful you have taken their case. You're a voice for these families.marinazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15833811648932446324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-52952918818656580922009-11-04T12:28:08.358-08:002009-11-04T12:28:08.358-08:00Tennessee Corrections Commissioner George Little s...Tennessee Corrections Commissioner George Little said after transferring Letalvis Cobbins, convicted killer of Channon Christian, to maximum-security housing at a West Tennessee prison, that giving other convicted murderers the same treatment would cost "millions of dollars." <br /><br />State Sen. Tim Burchett called Little on Friday after speaking to the father of murder victim Channon Christian. <br /><br />Little said that the call from Burchett and "more importantly, the concerns of the victim's family" relayed by the senator, were a factor in the relocation.<br /><br />Having Cobbins in maximum-security was also because he had "protective custody" status because of death threats against him, the commissioner said. Relocation was already being considered.<br /><br />"We look at the offender and not the offense," Little said. "When you seek to lock in offenders in terms of classification, it really begins to create artificial restraints on how you handle inmates."<br /><br />At his August trial, Cobbins admitted on the stand to raping Channon Christian. He said, "She offered me oral sex." <br /><br />The autopsy revealed that Channon's lip had been torn from her gum.<br /><br />David From TNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-67673431560557963272009-11-02T18:42:57.179-08:002009-11-02T18:42:57.179-08:00It was State Senator Tim Burchett who made the cal...It was State Senator Tim Burchett who made the call to state authorities. This won some future elections for him. <br /><br />The prison authorities made excuses for putting Cobbins in a medium security prison in the usual vague, bureaucratic language. They switched Cobbins to maximum security to avoid public ridicule, which is what it usually takes. <br /><br />One of the surprises of the trial was how many chances Davidson had been given and the number of people who tried to help him. He was even placed in a private Baptist school where he played football. The coach of the famed University of Tennessee football team took an interest in him. What did Davidson do? He went out and committed armed robbery. <br /><br />Five months after being paroled for carjacking in 2006, he was the ringleader in the most horrific murders in Knoxville history. <br /><br />This is why the jury rendered a sentence of death.<br /><br />David From TNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-13038111601425613662009-11-02T15:33:27.767-08:002009-11-02T15:33:27.767-08:00Thank you for covering this story. This was one o...Thank you for covering this story. This was one of the most horrific crimes I have ever followed. <br /><br />It's a pity Davidson wouldn't turn his life around, he could have made something of himself. <br /><br />I hope Chris and Channon's families will find some measure of peace, at least until the next trial.Tezihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00337768598187809674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-13639173603634682552009-11-02T13:50:40.275-08:002009-11-02T13:50:40.275-08:00Thank you all for the updates. I thought Corbbin w...Thank you all for the updates. I thought Corbbin was still in the medium security prison. Does anyone know the name of the Senator that got this POS sent to a maximum security facility? He deserves some recognition and a big thank you from the citizens of Tenn.....heck all of us should thank him....no telling where this monster would have run to had he escaped.<br />Honestly Dave you left me speechless when you said the prison authorities didn't know the details of the murders. How can you make such important decisions with so little information? Tenn needs to look at their intake and assessment process.<br /><br />September mooAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-72109961251667170892009-11-01T12:49:32.578-08:002009-11-01T12:49:32.578-08:00David- you are so brave to even enter through that...David- you are so brave to even enter through that door every day, I would need serious therapy after that myself.<br />Regarding the asinine strategy employed, even if the perp wanted to go that route, were his attorneys so obligated to follow him there? 'Cuz, personally, I think that the good folks of that area should run them right out on a rail for defaming these 2 victims. I wouldn't share an elevator with any of them for that- let alone consider calling that law firm for anything. I wonder what the fall-out will be for them (Trant, etc.) for that. Their client is purely evil- what could be their excuse? Are attorneys never allowed to consult their own conscience on this point? I suppose the only upshot is that it wouldn't be appealable, but, let's face it, they re-raped the victims, especially poor Channon...Karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-67148368671617304912009-11-01T04:30:04.421-08:002009-11-01T04:30:04.421-08:00David, that is way too scary - authorities in TN a...David, that is way too scary - authorities in TN are not aware of the "kind" of murder he was convicted for? Call me crazy, murder is murder!<br /><br />It was painful to see the parents on camera voicing their disbelief at where Cobbins was incarcerated! Thank God the Senator was also watching TV that day!<br /><br />Again, thank you for your coverage!donchaishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10633448176681880930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-61901258080924224762009-11-01T04:14:35.380-08:002009-11-01T04:14:35.380-08:00Donchais,
You ask why Cobbins was in a medium-sec...Donchais,<br /><br />You ask why Cobbins was in a medium-security prison? The answer seems to be that the authorities didn't seem to know what kind of murder he had been convicted for. At the Hardeman county prison, Cobbins asked to be in protective custody because he felt his life was in danger. Isn't that ironic? <br /><br />My understanding is that in maximum-security, he will be in a cell 23 out of 24 hours every day for life. At medium-security, Cobbins would have been able to mow the yard and walk around outside.<br /><br />Did you know that at least one of the Manson girls almost got paroled around 1978? Prosecutor Steven Kay went before the parole board and reminded them what the Manson gang had done. The authorities had already forgotten (or never knew) about it and were about to release Patricia Krenwinkle. (Source: "The D.A.," 1996)<br /><br />My impression is that the authorities in Nashville did not even know about this case. <br /><br />David From TNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-20215412516127235032009-11-01T02:39:22.262-08:002009-11-01T02:39:22.262-08:00Great job, David from TennesseeGreat job, David from TennesseeTrapellarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271397690598293203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-78573883169509894302009-11-01T00:46:46.576-07:002009-11-01T00:46:46.576-07:00David, you did an a great job for Channon, Chris a...David, you did an a great job for Channon, Chris and their families. I agree, this was the most difficult trial I have ever followed - I cried every day.<br /><br />How those families held it together is beyond me. While Gary's anger and rage is actually palpable, he managed to honor the kids with his restraint.<br /><br />And, thank God the Senator got involved and that pos Cobbins is being moved out of moderate security into maximum. WTH was up with that?donchaishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10633448176681880930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-1512927687336940642009-10-31T21:09:01.029-07:002009-10-31T21:09:01.029-07:00Katfish,
The next trial is of one George Thomas, ...Katfish,<br /><br />The next trial is of one George Thomas, a friend of Cobbins who was visiting. Jury selection starts the middle of November with the trial beginning the first week of December. The other suspect, a female who was doing the cooking, doesn't have a trial date. <br /><br />I just checked the Knoxville News Sentinel comment boards and saw something revealing from reporter Jamie Satterfield. She wrote that it was Davidson's idea to claim the victims came voluntarily to his house to buy drugs and his attorneys dutifully used that defense. This means the verdict can't be appealed on the grounds of defense strategy since it was the defendant's own strategy according to Satterfield.<br /><br />David From TNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757696342634699253.post-67065117919015239412009-10-31T18:55:58.268-07:002009-10-31T18:55:58.268-07:00David, You have done a great job of covering this ...David, You have done a great job of covering this case. I could not bring myself to watch this trial, so I really counted on your reports. There will come a day that justice will be done for Channon and Christopher! I wish this journey through the legal process could be done for their families but there will be 2 more to stand trial....correct? Not to mention appeals.....katfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17677596326492200191noreply@blogger.com