Christian-Newsom Torture Murders Status Update, Lemaricus Davidson New Trial Bid

We have another guest post from T&T contributor David in Tennessee!

Judge Rejects New Trial for Lemaricus Davidson in Christian-Newsom Torture-Murder Case

On Friday, November 8, 2019, Judge Walter Kurtz turned down a bid for a new trial by Lemaricus Davidson in the January 2007 murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

Davidson has been considered all along as the ringleader and prime mover of the crimes.

"But Kurtz ruled Friday that killer George Thomas' claim that Davidson had no role in Newsom's death was suspect and not enough to merit either a new trial or a new sentencing hearing."

Judge Kurtz decided "the newly presented facts related to Mr. Davidson's role in the death of Christopher Newsom would not have affected the guilty verdicts in this case nor the imposition of the death penalty."

Davidson's attorneys contended Thomas' testimony at the August trial made Boyd responsible for Newsom's murder with Davidson not involved.

Judge Kurtz ruled Davidson was a central figure in the crimes with "... an active and prominent role in the commission of the crimes for which he was convicted."

In other words, the Judge considered the totality of the evidence.

Thomas had taken a secret deal to testify against Boyd. For doing so his sentence would be reduced from Life Without Parole to 50 years. He put the blame for the rape-murder of Newsom on Eric Boyd.

Kurtz didn't believe a lot of what Thomas said. Why? "The court has difficulty in crediting all of Mr. Thomas's testimony given the court's knowledge of his role in these crimes," Kurtz wrote.

A major point is that even in his putting blame on Boyd, Thomas gave still more proof of Davidson being the ringleader of the crimes.

"The court accredits Mr. Thomas's testimony that Mr. Davidson ordered the killing of Mr. Newsom, and that Boyd was the person who killed Mr. Newsom and (set his body afire)."

The full details of the crime are told in earlier articles at Trials and Tribulations.

In his 2009 trial, Davidson claimed that Christian and Newsom weren't kidnapping victims but had come to his house to buy drugs. Davidson claimed the killings happened while he was out selling drugs.

All five suspects claimed to have seen and heard nothing, either stoned, asleep, frightened, etc.

When Davidson and attorneys learned of Thomas's deal, they tried to use it to their advantage. This, despite Thomas's testimony completely refuting Davidson's assertion the couple were willing visitors, not kidnap victims.

"Prosecutor Takisha Fitzgerald argued Thomas's testimony would have 'destroyed' Davidson's defense strategy in his 2009 trial and shouldn't be used now as a basis to attack his convictions and death sentence."

The Judge ruled Thomas's testimony did nothing to absolve Davidson's guilt. Thomas's testimony has Davidson ordering Boyd to kill Newsom and told Thomas to go with him.

Taking Thomas at face value, Boyd and Thomas left the house with Newsom under orders from Davidson.

My own view is that Davidson, Boyd, and Thomas -all three- took Christopher Newsom out to be killed. This was after Newsom had undergone horrendous torture.

Judge Kurtz based his ruling on the "totality" of the evidence. Davidson's attorneys will undoubtedly appeal the ruling.

Incidentally, when Davidson was captured, he was wearing Chris Newsom's shoes. Newsom's cap's and partially burned drivers license were found in the house in which Davidson was hiding.

Eric Boyd provided the vehicle used in the kidnapping.

Here is a video report by Knoxville's ABC affiliate.

Christian-Newsom Torture Murder - Day 6 Eric Boyd Trial

 Eric Boyd, at his murder trial

GUEST ENTRY by DAVID in TENNESSEE!

NOTE: This post will be updated throughout the day. Sprocket

August 13, 2019
8:40 PM PT
On Tuesday the jury found Eric Boyd guilty for his role in the torture-murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

The seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated around eight hours over two days before returning the verdict of first degree murder along with guilty verdicts on 36 charges in all. 

The verdict carries a life sentence with possibility of parole after 51 years for each of the two deaths. Judge Bob McGee will determine at a sentencing hearing on September 18 whether the two life sentences will be consecutive or concurrent. Also, what extra punishment Boyd will receive for the other charges, including kidnapping and rape. 

Of the other defendants, Lemaricus Davidson is on death row. Letalvis Cobbins is serving life without parole. Vanessa Coleman is serving 35 years. 

George Thomas had been serving 127 years (not up for parole until his eighties) until he agreed to testify against Boyd in return for a 50 year sentence. With the latter, Thomas could be up for parole in his late 60's. 

Thomas' testimony in this trial was somewhat ambiguous, but he placed Boyd at the scene and told the jury Boyd murdered Chris Newsom. 

Hugh Newsom, father of Chris, said, "We said we would not stop until Eric Boyd was prosecuted. There were times we wanted to give up. He'll never be back on the streets of Knoxville to commit more crimes." 

Here is a video report of comments from the victims' parents after the verdict.

David in TN


11:10 AM PT
GUILTY! The verdicts are being read now, halfway through the 36 charges. More later tonight.

9:54 AM PT

The jury has just asked a question on aggravated robbery. It concerns whether if Channon Christian was not hurt during the carjacking but was later. That's the question according to the Knoxville ABC station. The jury has been given lunch.

Knoxville News Sentinel's Jamie Satterfield tweeted this likely meant the jury has decided the murder counts and is going down the line (of 36). 

I expect a verdict sometime today. That's been the pattern of how long deliberations lasted in previous trials.

David in TN

Christian-Newsom Torture Murder - Day 5 Eric Boyd Trial

 Christopher Newsom & Channon Christian

GUEST ENTRY by DAVID in TENNESSEE!

August 12, 2019
As Day 5 begins, the prosecution reads into the record Adrienne Mathis testimony in the 2008 federal trial of Eric Boyd.

"Mathis said Boyd, her cousin, borrowed her car (white Pontiac used by the suspects to get to the apartment complex where they carjacked the couple) on either the fifth or sixth of January."

"Mathis said she found a bag of bullets in her car."

The state rested its case. The defense moved for the case to be dismissed due to lack of evidence. Judge Bob McGee ruled it can go to the jury. 

The defendant declined to testify. The defense rested. 

ADA Phil Morton gave the closing argument to the jury. Morton emphasized Xavier Jenkins' testimony of seeing the Pontiac Sunbird which Boyd had provided for the drive to the apartment complex where the victims were kidnapped. Jenkins also saw activity at the Chipman house, Christian's car, the Pontiac Sunbird parked behind Christian's car, and four black men in Christian's car. If there were four black men, one had to be Boyd.

Morton mentioned Mathis' testimony. He points out what George Thomas saw in the Pontiac. Thomas saw Boyd bring the victims in the house, bring Newsom to the tracks. 

Morton mentions the violence inflicted on the victim's bodies, the attempt to destroy evidence with bleach, and Boyd's DNA on the gun holster. 

The state said Boyd hid Davidson after the crimes. The state said Boyd was the only one with transportation to fulfill plans to steal a car and carry out the carjacking. "How are they going to get there? It's miles away."

The state goes through all 36 charges in order and shows the evidence on every charge. The charges are 9 counts of first degree murder of Newsom, 9 counts of first degree murder of Christian, two counts of especially aggravated robbery, four counts of aggravated kidnapping and 12 counts of aggravated rape.

The state goes over the concept of criminal responsibility, which was used to convict Thomas twice. Then the timeline is reviewed. 

Morton said of Boyd, "He set the wheels in motion, literally and figuratively for all this to happen." 

Morton said the suspects were a team who had choices in their actions. They were a "team of rapists." And "it was there for just unimaginable reasons, they decided to brutalize these kids. They decided to rape these kids," Morton said. 

Morton used Thomas' account to say Boyd shot Newsom in the head. Morton explained why they were previously unable to use Thomas' statement against Boyd. 

One suspects statement to police can't be used against another suspect unless he takes the stand. Photos of the victims came on the screen when Morton finished his argument.

The defense attorney, Clinton Frazier, began by saying the acts were "disgusting" but it was Davidson, Cobbins, Thomas, and Coleman. 

Frazier pointed out none of the DNA evidence belonged to Boyd. The state proved its case against the others, but not Boyd. 

Frazier claimed Jenkins saw only silhouettes, not features. He said Thomas's loyalty is to Cobbins, and still doesn't implicate Cobbins. 

Frazier details Thomas' conflicting accounts, which "don't make sense." 

Frazier said "Don't let your anger make the decision for you." He asks the jury to hold the state to its burdens and find Boyd not guilty.

The defendants have been skillfully defended in every trial. 

Takisha Fitzgerald, who has been the lead prosecutor throughout, gave the rebuttal. 

Fitzgerald said the state had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. She reviews all the evidence and said testimony corroborates it. 

"Mr. Boyd was a part of it...We ask you to hold Mr. Boyd accountable," Fitzgerald said. She said it took 12 years because they want to get it right."

The judge read the instructions to the jury. Three men and one woman were excused. The final panel is seven women and five men. 

The jury deliberated for two and a half hours Monday and recessed for the evening. They are to resume deliberations at 9 am. 

David in TN

Christian-Newsom Torture Murder - Day 4 Eric Boyd Trial

Eric Boyd at his murder trial

Photo Credit: knoxnews.com

UPDATE 8/11: Corrected where Jenkins workplace was in relation to crime scene house. Sprocket
GUEST ENTRY by DAVID in TENNESSEE!

August 10, 2019
I have watched the trial on live stream all four days.

Friday was the fourth day of testimony in the trial of Eric Boyd for his role in the January 2007 Christian-Newsom murders in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Boyd was indicted in 2018, 10 years after being convicted in federal court for aiding "ringleader" Lemaricus Davidson after the crimes.

It was long thought Boyd had provided the vehicle used in the carjacking and was involved. There wasn't much more evidence against George Thomas, but unlike Thomas, Boyd didn't admit to being in the Chipman street house. 

The only testimony directly linking Boyd was by Xavier Jenkins. Jenkins worked in a waste treatment facility in the neighborhood of the Chipman street house. Jenkins testified to seeing four black males in a white Chevy Sunbird, which was the car Boyd provided for use by the suspects. In every trial, defense attorneys have tried to shake Jenkin's story but he stood firm again in this trial. 

The other witness linking Boyd to the murders was Adrienne Mathis, Boyd's cousin. She testified in an earlier trial to loaning Boyd the Sunbird. This week, Mathis claimed to have "amnesia" and couldn't remember. She didn't change her story, she claimed to not remember.

More on this later.

The first testimony of the day had to do with Davidson's phone records. Then a friend of Boyd and Davidson gave a lively account of the two visiting her apartment. 

Forensic specialist Jennifer Millsaps testified to a piece of Boyd's stained clothing. Although it could not be linked directly to the murders, Judge Bob McGee allowed it in.

The key testimony of the day was by Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan. She is the medical examiner. The live stream doesn't show the autopsy photos. I saw them when I attended the Vanessa Coleman retrial.

Here is what I wrote after seeing the medical examiner's testimony and the photos in 2012. The testimony on Friday was identical.

"The first photo was of Chris Newsom's burned body lying beside the railroad tracks. His body was blackened from about the knees up with the face unrecognizable. There was a blindfold over his eyes which somewhat preserved them. A police officer who was a friend of the Newsoms could recognize Chris 'because of his eyes,'

"The other photo was of Chris Newsom's bare feet which were still tied by a belt and ligature." 

"Now came Dr. Mileusnic-Polchan's (ME) presentation concerning the rape and murder of Channon Christian. Her body was not removed from the garbage can until at the medical examiner's office. The can was covered by a tarpaulin while being hauled there. Her face had been covered by a white plastic bag and the body enclosed in several black plastic bags. 

"Channon Christian was a beautiful 21-year old woman who stood five feet, eight inches, and weighed 122 pounds."

"On the screen appeared a photo of Channon's body lying on a gurney. Her body was still contorted in the position it was in after being 'crammed' into the trash can. She was naked from the waste down."

"The mouth was open. The eyes were half-closed. Her face was frozen in horror. She had died of asphyxiation after hours of agony. The left arm was extended upward from the elbow."

"This photo hit me like a punch."

"The next photo showed abrasion inside the lips. Her gum had been knocked loose from her teeth. A photo of her face was next."

"Then came a photo of her genitals. It revealed tremendous trauma. She had been kicked and beaten repeatedly in the vagina. During Davidson's trial, a beginning female deputy DA fainted at this photo."

"The next photo was of her anus with still more heavy bruising. It looked like she had been clubbed, She had been raped anally, vaginally, and sodomized."

I repeat viewers of the Court TV live stream didn't see this. The Court TV talking heads in their Atlanta studio could not see it.

Knoxville News Sentinel reporter Jamie Satterfield tweeted from the courtroom "Jurors are struggling with these images. One guy rubbed his face and kept his head down, another rubbing his temples, lady covers her mouth, etc..."

Of Newsom, Satterfield tweeted "Savaged-that's the best way to describe what happened to Chris."

On Friday, Dr. Mileusnic-Polchan said there was tearing, bruising and lacerations of Newsom's anus. "That was indication of damage," she told the courtroom. "Plus, on the inside there were some additional tears and additional bruising." 

The anal injuries occurred one to two hours before Newsom was shot, she said. She confirmed that Newsom was raped.

George Thomas' testimony this week and prior by the suspects said nothing about the horrible wounds inflicted on the victims. 

The prosecution rested. 

Now, the state asked Judge McGee to allow Boyd's cousin Adrienne Mathis' prior testimony in which she told of loaning Eric Boyd the Sunbird. Without this testimony, the state can't connect Boyd to the Sunbird. 

Prosecutor Takisha Fitzgerald asked McGee to let in prior testimony only from Boyd's 2008 federal trial. 

Judge McGee gave the state a win. He ruled Mathis was "unavailable" because of her claimed loss of memory and will allow into evidence prior federal testimony.

That was the end of Friday's session. Court resumes on Monday.

David in TN

Christian-Newsom Torture Murders - Day 3 Eric Boyd Trial

 Christopher Newsom & Channon Christian

GUEST ENTRY by DAVID in TENNESSEE!

August 8, 2019
Today was Day 3 of the trial of Eric Boyd for his part in the Christian-Newsom murders.

The cross examination of George Thomas by Eric Boyd's attorney was not as extensive as expected. Clinton Frazier, Boyd's attorney, mainly went over Thomas' not seeming to know much of anything. 

The Court TV guest commentators were disappointed the cross was short.

The mothers of the victims, Deena Christian and Mary Newsom, took the stand in succession. This is the eighth trial they have done so. Both told of the last time they saw their children and the shock upon finding them missing.

Since both were over 21, the police wouldn't look for them and Chris and Channon's friends had to search themselves.

Former Knox County Sheriff Jimmy Jones questioned Vanessa Coleman, Letalvis Cobbins, and George Thomas in January 2007 in Kentucky. Jones thought Thomas was most truthful but "you never get the whole truth, ever."

Daphne Sutton, "ringleader" Lemaricus Davidson's girlfriend, testified to thinking there was another woman in the bathroom. The door was closed and Sutton was kept away. While telling her to leave, Davidson gave Sutton some of Channon's clothes. When seeing them today, Sutton cried.

This never happened before. 

In a trial I attended in 2013, I walked by Daphne Sutton while she was sitting on the bench outside the courtroom for prospective witnesses. She gave me quite a look. 

Tomorrow (Friday), the medical examiner will testify. The jury will see gruesome photos and the description of the torture and death inflicted on the victims.

David in TN

Christian-Newsom Torture Murders - Day 2 Eric Boyd Trial

GUEST ENTRY by DAVID in TENNESSEE

August 7, 2019
Here is a video report by Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel.

I watched the testimony of George Thomas on live stream by Court TV. As always Thomas played down his own involvement. He makes the atmosphere inside the death house seem placid. He claims to have never heard either victim say anything, cry out, fight back. 

Thomas now says Cobbins didn't go with him and Boyd to kill Chris Newsom. Before he had said Davidson went with Thomas. Thomas puts all crimes against Chris Newsom on Boyd. 

Thomas' account of Newsom's death doesn't fit the way the body was found, no pants or shoes. Thomas has Newsom clothed. 

A new story. Thomas claims at one point Boyd was left in the house with Channon Christian while he, Davidson, Cobbins, and Vanessa Coleman drove off somewhere for a short time. 

What Thomas said today doesn't fit what came out at his own (two) trials and Cobbins' 2009 trial. 

Thomas did place Boyd at the scene. The other suspects had said Boyd was present in their police interviews, but none had in court under oath until today. 

My own opinion and most other people who have followed the case is Boyd was far more involved in the crime than Thomas was. The difference is Thomas admitted to being in the Chipman Street house while Boyd didn't. 

Jamie Satterfield was interviewed on Court TV this evening. She said when federal prosecutors tried Eric Boyd in federal court for accessory after the fact in 2008 for hiding the "ringleader," Lemaricus Davidson, they basically made a murder case against Boyd. He had furnished the vehicle for the carjacking. 

The feds wanted to try the whole thing themselves as a carjacking-murder which federal statutes could have allowed. 

However, the torture-murders of two attractive, likable young people outraged the Knoxville community. The local District Attorney General's office demanded the opportunity to try the murder case in state court. 

The local DA, according to Ms. Satterfield, wanted to be certain of winning convictions and was afraid of possibly losing if he tried Boyd. 

There is now a different administration in the Knox County DA's office and they filed the case. The victim's parents, especially the Newsoms who have always believed it was Eric Boyd who raped and murdered their son were insistent on Boyd being charged. 

While Boyd denied being in the Chipman house when interviewed by Knoxville police, he gave considerable detail about what went on, claiming Davidson told him. 

Tomorrow, Boyd's attorney will cross examine Thomas. Prosecutor Takisha Fitzgerald will have work to do on redirect. 

Eric Boyd has the most extensive criminal past of the suspects starting very young. Boyd was a stick-up man. He walked into convenience stores, service stations, etc, pulled a gun and demanded the contents of the cash register. He was also an experienced carjacker. He served several prison sentences for these offenses. The jury won't hear about Boyd's criminal record.

David in TN

Christian-Newsom Torture Murders - Eric Boyd Trial

GUEST ENTRY by DAVID in TENNESSEE!

This is a short update by David in TN on the Eric Boyd Trial. Sprocket

August 7, 2019

This is a summary of the first day of testimony from the Knoxville ABC affiliate. Adrienne Mathis, Eric Boyd's cousin, had testified at earlier trials to loaning Boyd the vehicle used in the kidnapping. Yesterday, she claimed to "not recall" doing so. 

David in TN

Note: There is a live stream of the trial at the ABC affiliate link. Sprocket

Christian-Newsom Torture Murders - Eric Boyd Upcoming Trial

Christopher Newsom, Channon Christian

GUEST ENTRY by David in Tennessee!

ERIC BOYD UPCOMING TRIAL

Tomorrow (Monday) jury selection begins in the trial of Eric Boyd for his role in the torture-murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom in Knoxville, Tennessee on January 7, 2007. 

Since my report last February, there have been two developments.

One, Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee rejected the bid by Boyd's attorney for a jury pool outside Knox County.

Two, George Thomas, a suspect already convicted in the case and sentenced to two life terms, is on the prosecution witness list. According to the sentence, Thomas would be eligible for parole after 50 years.

Knoxville News Sentinel reporter Jamie Satterfield wrote:

"Boyd has long denied he was anywhere near the Chipman Street home when Christian and Newsom were brought there, bound, blindfolded, and gagged, after they were kidnapped while preparing to  leave a North Knoxville apartment complex for a date."

"Thomas, on the other hand, admitted he was inside the home and saw what was going on, but he denied any active role in any of the crimes committed against the couple. A jury twice convicted him anyway. He has exhausted most of his appeals."

"It's not clear yet if the state has offered Thomas a reduction in his sentence in return for his testimony against Boyd. Newsom's parents, Hugh and Mary Newsom, had once hoped to convince another suspect--Letalvis Cobbins--to testify against Boyd, but he later refused after a plea deal fell through."

The other suspects have said Eric Boyd furnished the vehicle used in the kidnapping.

David in TN

The Christian-Newsom Torture Murder Case Update

 Christopher Newsom, Channon Christian

Murdered January 2007

February 7, 2019
T&T is grateful to have guest contributor David in Tennessee provide an update on the Christian- Newsom case. Sprocket.

Guest Entry by David in Tennessee
I've been following major trials going back to Manson and Patty Hearst. The Christian-Newsom torture-murders are distinguished by the sheer horror, length of time, convoluted events, twists and turns.

KnoxNews.com details the horrific events. In January 2007, Channon Christian, 21, and boyfriend Christopher Newsom were abducted, tortured, raped (both of them), and killed in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Channon Christian's SUV was abandoned by the killers after wiping it down. However, a fingerprint was found on an envelope in the car. The AFIS database linked the print to one Lemaricus Davidson, with an address in Knoxville. When the police arrived, they found Channon Christian's body stuffed in a garbage can. 

Eventually five suspects were arrested. Four were tried in Knox County. One, Eric Boyd, was tried and convicted in Federal Court. More on Boyd presently. 

The four tried in state court were convicted. The "ringleader," Davidson, was sentenced to death. His half-brother, Letalvis Cobbins, to LWOP (life without parole). George Thomas was sentenced to life with parole after 50 years. The lone female, Vanessa Coleman, to 35 years. Thomas and Coleman had two trials. Why? Judge Richard Baumgartner was doing drugs and having sex with a woman who was a probationer in his court. The other defendants didn't get new trials due to rock-solid DNA evidence against them. 

In April 2018, KnoxNews.com reports a Knox County grand jury indicted Eric Boyd, who had long been suspected as one of the perpetrators. 

"The grand jury returned a 36-count presentment March 20 against Boyd, 46, including charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated rape in the January 2007 case."

Authorities previously thought they didn't have enough evidence to charge Boyd. There wasn't DNA from Boyd (at the time) on the victims and he was crafty enough not to admit being in the death house, unlike the others. 

Boyd did give a lot of details in his police interrogation, but claimed he heard them from Davidson. Boyd was convicted in Federal Court of hiding Davidson and sentenced to 18 years. 

Christopher Newsom's parents had pushed for Boyd's prosecution, whom they believed raped and murdered their son. 

"Two volunteer sleuths -Tom Hyman and Kevin Cowans- have helped the Newsoms piece together evidence to present to Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen." 

The Knox County DAG has declined to say what new evidence resulted in the grand jury indictment. 

According to a KnoxNews.com story in June 2018, Cobbins and Thomas implicated Boyd in their interrogations, but those statements can't be used as evidence against him. The U.S Supreme Court ruled defendants "have the right to confront their accusers via the witness stand, not through unchallenged statements of co-defendants."

The witness list against Boyd indicates his own words will be used against him, something all suspects are told. Several corrections officers and investigators are on the witness list. 

Last week KnoxNews.com reported, Lemaricus Davidson, "ringleader" of the Christian-Newsom murders, was in Knoxville for a hearing requesting a new trial. 

One of the oddities of the whole case is Davidson and his lawyers insisting on a Knox County jury. In all the other trials, a jury was brought in from elsewhere in Tennessee. Judge Baumgartner in open court pleaded with them to have a jury outside of Knox County. He sighed when the defense lawyers still insisted on it.

Eventually, Davidson was convicted and sentenced to death. Supposedly, the defense can't use the Knox County jury as an issue for appeal. It sounds like they are doing just that.

Why did they call for a local jury? The answer is the defense talked themselves into believing 12 impartial jurors couldn't be found. And defense attorney Doug Trant suggested in testimony at the hearing, hoped not to. 

Trant said: "I told (Davidson) if we were not able to seat a jury, he could not be convicted."

The defense attorneys hoped jury selection would be "interminable" and the prosecution might offer Davidson a plea deal on a reduced charge. The District Attorney General's office had offered the defense a guilty plea to life without parole. Davidson said no, declaring he preferred death to life in prison.

After being convicted and sentenced to death, Davidson regretted his decision. 

Trant said: "I remember when he got the death sentence, he cried. He said it was one thing to anticipate a death sentence and another to actually get it."

The other defense attorney, David Eldridge, complained about the "level of publicity." 

The defense also said it was common knowledge in the legal community that Judge Baumgartner was a heavy user of painkillers. 

Davidson's conviction was nearly overturned because of Baumgartner's drug use on the bench, but the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled there was no "structural error." The defense is trying again. 

Most likely, they won't succeed, but with this case, you never know.

Eric Boyd's trial is currently set for August 2019.

The Christian-Newsom Torture-Murder Case: A Synopsis

GUEST ENTRY from DAVID in TENNESSEE! 

On Saturday night, January 6, 2007, Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23, were carjacked from the Washington Ridge Apartments in Knoxville, Tennessee. They were taken to a house on Chipman Street about three and a half miles away. 

Over the next several hours, Christian and Newsom were both raped, tortured, and murdered. Chris Newsom was dragged by a dog leash around his neck to a railroad track several hundred yards from the Chipman Street house. He was naked from the waist down and his hands were tied behind his back. Chris' face was wrapped in a sweatshirt and his mouth was gagged with his own socks, His bare feet were bound. He had been raped with "an object." and by unknown males. At the track, Newsom was shot three times, only the last was fatal. His body was set on fire, which destroyed the DNA evidence and made it impossible to identify which of the killers raped him. 

Mary Newsom, Chris' mother, wanted to see the body. The police would not let her. She put her arms around the body bag. 

Channon Christian's body was found in the house of Lemaricus Davidson, who is considered the ringleader of those involved. The five feet, eight inches tall Channon Christian was "crammed," according to the medical examiner in a garbage can. She was "hog-tied" with a plastic bag over her head. DNA evidence showed she had been raped vaginally and anally. Semen from Davidson's half-brother was found in her mouth. Her vaginal area had been beaten bloody, either kicked or by something used as a club. Bleach had been sprayed down her throat in an attempt to destroy DNA.

Channon Christian's Toyota 4Runner was found abandoned in the general area. It had been wiped down. However, an envelope was found with a fingerprint. When run through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) database, it belonged to Davidson. This broke the case.

Without this one fingerprint, the murders might be unsolved to this day. 

Four people were arrested for the torture-murders. They were Davidson, his half-brother Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas, and Vanessa Coleman, the lone female defendant. A fifth, Eric Boyd, was charged in federal court as an accessory for aiding Davidson after the crime.

According to Cobbins, Boyd provided the vehicle and took part in the carjacking. Boyd was not charged in the murders because he could not be placed in the Chipman Street house. 

The crime was called a "robbery" and a "random" event. However, the only things stolen were items in Channon's purse which were found in Coleman's possession. The Toyota was not kept even though it had a market value of $15,000 according to Channon's father, Gary Christian, who worked at a Toyota dealership. Nor did they try to ransom the victims whom the perpetrators thought were rich.

Here is Knoxville News Sentinel reporter Jamis Satterfield's account of what she thinks happened on Chipman Street. Satterfield believes Boyd raped Chris and that Coleman beat Channon's private parts. I agree with her on these points. I disagree when she writes of it as a "random carjacking." "Random" means it was accidental. The whole affair was very deliberate and as mentioned above, the car was not kept by the killers.

Eric Boyd was convicted in 2008 as an accessory and sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. 

Cobbins was convicted in August of 2009 and sentenced to life without parole. Davidson was convicted on October 28, 2009 and sentenced to death. Also in 2009, George Thomas was convicted and sentenced to life without parole. 

In 2010, Vanessa Coleman was acquitted of all charges regarding Christopher Newsom and of Channon Christian's murder. She was convicted of 17 facilitation charges against Christian and sentenced to 53 years. 

I was in the courtroom for three days of Vanessa Coleman's trial. It seemed to me that some of the female jurors felt sorry for Coleman. At the time, jurors were allowed to ask questions and I saw some pro-defense questions during police testimony. Coleman kept a journal and had some entries for the weekend of the murders. She wrote in part:

"Lets talk about adventures! I've had one HELL OF AN ADVENTURE since I've been in the big T.N.

HA! HA!"

The jurors had no questions about Coleman's diary.

In 2011, it was revealed that Richard Baumgartner, who presided over all four state trials, had been using illegal prescription drugs obtained from a probationer in his own court. He had used drugs during the Christian-Newsom trials.

Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood, who replaced Baumgartner, overturned all four verdicts and said they must be retried. 

The Knoxville District Attorney General appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court and another judge, Walter Kurtz, ruled the Davidson and Cobbins verdicts would stand because of the DNA evidence. Also, Cobbins had testified. Judge Kurtz ordered new a new trial for George Thomas.

The retrial for Coleman had not been contested and took place in November of 2012 with Blackwood presiding. This time Coleman was convicted on 13 of 17 counts and was sentenced to 35 years in prison, somewhat less than the first time. 

She will be up for parole around five years from now. 

George Thomas was convicted for a second time on May 17, 2013. This time Thomas received a sentence of life with the possibility of parole. By law, he must serve at least 51 years.

For the parents of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, the second Thomas verdict made seven trials and over 300 court appearances. 

Let us hope the case is over.

David in TN

Thomas Convicted For Second Time In Christian-Newsom Torture-Murders

Christopher Newsom, Channon Christian, date unknown.

GUEST ENTRY by DAVID in TENNESSEE!
On Friday, May 17, George Thomas was convicted for the second time in the January 2007 torture-murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

For the victim's families, this made seven trials and over 300 court appearances.

A Davidson County (Nashville) jury found Thomas guilty on all counts, the same as in Thomas' previous trial in 2009. The jurors were unaware that George Thomas had been convicted of the same crimes in 2009.

On the same afternoon, the panel of six men and six women gave Thomas a sentence of life with the possibility of parole. The previous conviction saw a sentence of life without parole. By law, he cannot come up for parole until after serving 51 years. With six years to his credit, Thomas would be 75 years old.

On June 4, there will be a sentencing hearing on the lesser charges and more can be added to the sentence.

Thomas defense attorneys were much more aggressive than in 2009. They argued for his innocence on the grounds of no DNA or fingerprint evidence against him.

Lemaricus Davidson, the ringleader, was sentenced to death. Letalvis Cobbins is serving life without parole. Judge Walter Kurtz rejected new trials for these two because of overwhelming DNA evidence tying them to the rape and murder of Channon Christian.

Attorneys for Davidson and Cobbins are appealing but most observers think their convictions will stand.

The lone female defendant, Vanessa Coleman, was convicted of facilitation for the second time last November. Her sentence was 35 years, down from 53 after her first trial.

A fifth man, Eric Boyd, has always been suspected to of taking part in the carjacking and other crimes. Boyd was clever enough not to admit being in the Chipman Street house and there was no forensic evidence against him.

Boyd was convicted in 2008 in federal court as an accessory and sentenced to 18 years.

Thomas and Cobbins in police interviews said Boyd participated in the carjacking but these statements could not be used in court unless they took the stand. The families believe Boyd got away with murder.

Both the Christians and Newsoms vow to attend any more proceedings in this horrific case.

Here is a link from WATE with several videos of the reaction of family members to the verdict and another from WBIR.

David in TN

 George Thomas at his retrial.

Christian-Newsom Case on Investigation Discovery

The Investigation Discovery Channel's "Sins and Secrets" show is repeating the episode on the Christian-Newsom torture-murders in Knoxville, Tennessee tonight (Wednesday) at 10pm ET and again at 1am ET. The program is scheduled yet again for Saturday March 5 at 6pm ET.

The program shows what Knoxville looks like for those who have never been there. The biggest drawback is not being long enough at one hour with 20 minutes of commercials.

Only one of the trials (of the ringleader) is covered. Some details are wrong. The murder weapon belonged to the ringleader, Lemaricus Davidson, rather than George Thomas. The four defendants didn't go in a group and carjack the couple as the show implies. Eric Boyd, who was allegedly at the carjacking, and was convicted as an accessory in federal court is not mentioned.

One of the best parts is footage from Davidson's arrest. He was in his stocking feet. Chris Newsom's shoes where in a corner. Davidson had been wearing them.

Despite the errors previously mentioned, it's a compelling case. As someone who has followed the case from the beginning, I highly recommend this program.

David In Tennessee

David covered several of the defendant's murder trials for T&T. Sprocket