New Trials Granted To Murdering Savages In Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom Case

[Vektor7]

The four defendants -- Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman -- have all been sent back to prison, where they will stay through the new trials.
Because of the double jeopardy rule, none can be found guilty of any higher crime than their previous convictions. That means only Davidson is again eligible for the death penalty.

Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood has granted the motions for new trials for all four of the defendants convicted in the murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom.
The judge announced his decision just after 1 p.m. Thursday after a lengthy explanation involving a projector. Click here to see the information Judge Blackwood used to make his decision.

The trials of the four defendants were presided over by former Judge Richard Baumgartner, who was removed from the bench after admitting he had an addiction to prescription painkillers.
The file of the TBI investigation, which had been sealed from public view up until Thursday, outlined evidence that Baumgartner was likely impaired while presiding over those trials. Witnesses in that investigation told of years of prescription drug abuse by the former judge, who reportedly doctor-shopped and associated with at least two convicted criminals in order to get the painkillers.

The evidence included Baumgartner's abuse of hydrocodone, oxycodone, oxycontin, and more. He reportedly obtained much of that medication from Deena Castleman, who was a drug addict herself. Baumgartner apparently visited her in the hospital, where the two did drugs. The report said he also used drugs and had sex with her inside his chambers.

Judge Blackwood was visibly upset when making his decision but said, while he could not point to a transcript that showed Baumgartner was high during the trials, he said, "Use your common sense."
He said he felt for the families and all of those who worked so hard on the cases, but he had no choice but to grant the retrials.

Mary Newsom, the mother of victim Chris Newsom, said she was angry with Baumgartner. Newsom told reporters she felt like four years of her life had been wasted.
Motions will next be heard in the case January 12th at 9:30 a.m.

Following the ruling, Letalvis Cobbins stood up to complain of "dehumanizing" treatment in prison, but Judge Blackwood interrupted him and sent him out of the courtroom.
During Thursday morning hearing about possible new trials for the four defendants in Christian-Newsom case, attorney shocks courtroom by saying former judge had sex with drug addict in chambers.

Doug Trant, attorney for Lemaricus Davidson, revealed to the court part of what was in the sealed TBI file -- former Judge Richard Baumgartner had sex with a drug addict in his chambers.
He also reportedly took up to 30 hydrocodone pills per day.

All four defendants -- Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman -- are in the courtroom.

Their attorneys are making their arguments, one by one, in front of Jon Kerry Blackwood.
They are relying, at least partly, on the evidence contained in a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation file on former Judge Richard Baumgartner. The file has been kept secret from the public but contains information about his admitted addiction to prescription pain pills.

Thursday, a Knox County judge is expected to decide whether to grant new trials for the four people convicted in connection with the deaths of a Knox County couple.

Channon Christian and Chris Newsom were kidnapped, tortured, raped and murdered in January 2007. Former Judge Richard Baumgartner presided over the trials for the suspects in the case.

However, Baumgartner was disbarred in October after admitting to past drug abuse. Defense attorneys are hoping Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood will agree their clients deserve new trials.
Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas, and Vanessa Coleman were all convicted in their deaths. Davidson received the death penalty. Cobbins and Thomas were sentenced to life in prison. Coleman received 53 years behind bars.

A hearing is set for 9 a.m. on Thursday morning.

Judge grants new trials in the Channon Christian, Chris Newsom murders | wbir.com

Documentary: The murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom - YouTube

Documentary: The murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom - YouTube

[watson503]

Chris Newsom and Channon Christian-two names I will never forget,two names that should be known by all for the horror they endured at the hands of these savages that have been sickeningly portrayed as being "just like us".
" Following the ruling, Letalvis Cobbins stood up to complain of "dehumanizing" treatment in prison, but Judge Blackwood interrupted him and sent him out of the courtroom. " Dehumanizing?These are not humans that committed this crime!They deserve nothing save for a slow and agonizing departure from this earth.To think what these two kids went through and how they spent their last moments on this earth...it is sickening.We have sacrificed everything for a group that has done nothing since their first days on this earth and who are now tearing-away at our society with their violence and ignorance and their "culture".We have sacrificed everything-even our children.Enough is enough.

[irishwarlord]

Originally Posted by watson503

Chris Newsom and Channon Christian-two names I will never forget,two names that should be known by all for the horror they endured at the hands of these savages that have been sickeningly portrayed as being "just like us".
" Following the ruling, Letalvis Cobbins stood up to complain of "dehumanizing" treatment in prison, but Judge Blackwood interrupted him and sent him out of the courtroom. " Dehumanizing?These are not humans that committed this crime!They deserve nothing save for a slow and agonizing departure from this earth.To think what these two kids went through and how they spent their last moments on this earth...it is sickening.We have sacrificed everything for a group that has done nothing since their first days on this earth and who are now tearing-away at our society with their violence and ignorance and their "culture".We have sacrificed everything-even our children.Enough is enough.

Wow. what could be added to that. Except this. I hope when these filty animals get to hell. they are dehumanized in the same way they dehumanized Channon and Chris. for no less then 100 centuries.

[Pink Elephant]

Judge denies Christian-Newsom appeal; change of venue motion

Thousands sign petition against new double murder trials

Retrial dates set in Knoxville torture-slayings - WSMV Channel 4

Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood on Thursday set June 11 for the retrial of Lemaricus Davidson.

Davidson was sentenced to death as the alleged ringleader among the defendants convicted in the 2007 torture-slayings of a young Knoxville couple, Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that Blackwood said juries for all retrials will be selected from other yet-to-be determined counties.

Blackwood also set trials Aug. 27 for Letalvis Cobbins, Oct. 22 for George Thomas and Nov. 12 for Vanessa Coleman.

[Angry_White_Goy]

This was rather covienent for the proponets of die-versity wasn't it?

Former Judge Richard Baumgartner tells his story of drug use through video | wbir.com


Much of Thursday's evidence centered on Baumgartner's relationship with Deena Castleman. Baumgartner met Castleman when she was an addict who had graduated from his Drug Court in 2006.

Castleman approached Baumgartner in 2008 to request help obtaining a job. Instead, Baumgartner used Castleman to feed his own addiction.

He stated to her "that he loved his opiates" and gave Castleman "$200 to purchase Hydros." (Hydrocodone)

"Didn't she have at least a right to keep that judge from turning her right back into being a drug addict so he could get his pills," Blackwood stated with a shout on Thursday.

Castleman and Judge Baumgartner began "a sexual thing" after their meeting at the City County Building. Sometimes the sexual encounters occurred at Baumgartner's office.

"On three occasions, Ms. Castleman testified that they had sexual relations right back there [in Baumgartner's office]," said Blackwood.

Baumgartner's "sordid" illegal activity detailed | wbir.com


January 7, 2007 Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom kidnapped

Original Trial dates May and August 2008. However, the trial date for the subjects indicted in Knox County was moved back to 2009 in February 2008

Castleman approached Baumgartner in 2008 to request help obtaining a job. (And going through the records of his prescriptions things went really off the hook in the winter of 2008)

http://www.wbir.com/pdf/12111_CNDOCUMENTS.pdf

In the big picture though definitely not from the families point of view this will just bring more light to this horrible HATE crime and will hopefully wake a few people up. Maybe the Feds can take over this case and prosecute them under Federal Hate Crimes Laws

1964 Federal Civil Rights Law

The 1964 Federal Civil Rights Law, 18 U.S.C. § 245(b)(2), permits federal prosecution of anyone who "willingly injures, intimidates or interferes with another person, or attempts to do so, by force because of the other person's race, color, religion or national origin" because of the victim's attempt to engage in one of six types of federally protected activities, such as attending school, patronizing a public place/facility, applying for employment, acting as a juror in a state court or voting.

Persons violating the 1969 Federal Hate Crimes Law face a fine or imprisonment of up to one year, or both. If bodily injury results or if such acts of intimidation involve the use of firearms, explosives or fire, individuals can receive prison terms of up to 10 years, while crimes involving kidnapping, sexual assault, or murder can be punishable by life in prison or the death penalty. U.S. district Courts provide for criminal sanctions only. The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 contained a provision at 42 U.S.C. § 13981 which allowed victims of gender-motivated hate crimes to seek "compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and such other relief as a court may deem appropriate", but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Morrison that the provision is unconstitutional.

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (1994)

Main article: Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act

The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, enacted in 28 U.S.C. § 994 note Sec. 280003, requires the United States Sentencing Commission to increase the penalties for hate crimes committed on the basis of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or gender of any person. In 1995, the Sentencing Commission implemented these guidelines, which only apply to federal crimes. (Kidnapping is a Federal Crime)

Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Main article: Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act

On October 28, 2009 President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, attached to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, which expanded existing United States federal hate crime law to apply to crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, and dropped the prerequisite that the victim be engaging in a federally protected activity (Though is doesn't have to be any Federal Crime Committed in first place)

From Wikipedia

[Pink Elephant]

Thousands of retrials possible on former Baumgartner cases

...[ Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols ] says he's still trying to appeal for a hearing on the matter. "If we could get a hearing and a court would speak, then it would at least bring clarity to the situation. Am I going to have to re-try them? If so, then let's get on with it," he said.

Nichols says these convictions and pleas are legal. "I believe the law supports the validity of these convictions. That's what I believe, and I intend to argue that until my last breath," he said.

The DA has until May 14 to file an appeal in the matter.

[Pink Elephant]

http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/2238...cusal-decision

August 17: hearing to decide retrial of Lemaricus Davidson and Letalvis Cobbins

October 8: hearing to recuse Judge Blackwood

[Confederacy]

Can't fix this. All you can do is kill them and hurt forever.

[9693eel]

Published on Nov 13, 2012 by oakwoodNS
JACKSON (WATE) - Jurors were selected Friday in the case against Vanessa Coleman, one of the four defendants in the Christian-Newsom murders.

Vanessa Coleman faces charges of facilitating Channon Christian's murder, kidnapping, rape and theft. She was convicted in 2010, but was granted a new trial because of Judge Richard Baumgartner's addiction to pain pills.

On Friday, 500 potential jurors were screened in two different Jackson courtrooms. The selection took place there because of the high-profile nature of the case.

Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood, who was removed from the other three Christian-Newsom trials, is still presiding in the case against Coleman.

Judge Blackwood held a discussion with jurors for about 30 minutes, telling them about the duty and responsibility of being a member of the jury.

"Your first responsibility, ladies and gentlemen, is to follow the law," said Judge Blackwood. "You must be absolutely honest and candid with every question regarding your qualifications to serve as juror."

The potential jurors were then asked to form a line for people who claimed it would be a hardship to participate in the trial.

Out of 200 people in one courtroom alone, only about 70 people were left after the hardship dismissals.

During proceedings, Coleman was dressed in pink with a new hairstyle, her red hair dyed back to black. She gave a shy smile to potential jurors as the judge introduced her.

Judge Blackwood said the trial would take about a week and that jurors will be sequestered in Knox County during that time.

"This is going to be hard. This is going to be difficult," said the judge. "You will be separated from your family for a period of time and we are going to try and move through the case as fast as we can to get you back home."

Fourteen people were later called to the jury box for more questioning, where they were asked if they previously knew anything about the case and whether they had formed an opinion.

Three had heard of the case. One potential juror had seen a Nancy Grace episode about the case that had aired the previous night, but claimed not to have formed an opinion about it.

The Knox County Assistant District Attorney then began asking questions to 16 potential jurors.

Prosecutors explained to them what they had to prove in the case. They described premeditation to the jurors as thinking before you act, like when driving.

They also asked jurors whether Coleman's charges meant they thought she was a little guilty. The potential jurors remained silent.

"The burden of proving her guilt or not proving her guilt rests with the State of Tennessee and that means she does not have to question any witnesses and does not have to take the witness stand," said Judge Blackwood.

The defense also asked whether they would find Coleman not guilty if they had a reasonable doubt.

They also asked if the potential jurors thought Casey Anthony jurors made the wrong decision. One person raised their hand.

After the day's proceedings, 12 jurors and six alternates were selected for the trial.

Only four alternates were planning to travel Knoxville on Monday. The trial was scheduled to begin on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

Of the sixteen traveling to Knoxville, eight were men and eight were women. Seven of the jurors were white and nine were black. A wide range of ages were represented in the jury pool.

The jury was scheduled to be bused to Knoxville to take part in the trial.