GUILTY: Eric Boyd's Christian-Newsom murder accessory trial over
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Updated: 8:11 PM Aug 18, 2009
GUILTY: Eric Boyd's Christian-Newsom murder accessory trial over
The first trial ends with the first guilty verdict in connection with the deaths of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23.
Posted: 6:16 PM Apr 16, 2008
Reporter: Rob Pratt
Eric Boyd
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The first trial ends with the first guilty verdict in connection with the deaths of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23.

The only one of the five suspects not charged with murder, Eric DeWayne Boyd is guilty of being an accessory, according to the jury.

The jury has spoken, convicting Eric Boyd of two counts.

After five hours of deliberation, they found Boyd guilty of being an accessory after the fact, and concealing a felon, agreeing with the prosecution that he helped hide murder suspect Lemaricus Davidson from police, while failing to report his crimes.

This battle is over, but the victim's families know the war will be long.

The victims' families celebrate the word they've been waiting to hear for more than a year: Guilty.

Eric Boyd's conviction today is the first, but family members pray it won't be the last.

Channon Christian's father Gary Christian says, "One down, four to go, baby. We got more to go on this one too. Eric boyd's gonna hear from us."

What Eric Boyd heard from the jury today will likely mean 15 years in federal prison, after sentencing August 12th.

Next year may bring four more trials, death penalty cases against the four accused murderers.

Even on this day, Chris Newsom's mother is thinking about that.

Mary Newsom says, "They really, really tortured them beyond a normal killing, so whatever the others get, that's what they deserve."

Knoxville Police Sgt. Tim Snodderly says, "This is just a small part of what we've got going on. This is just a first step, and we're extremely happy with the verdict we got today. We've got a long way to go but this is a little bit of justice for the family."

These families say they heard Eric Boyd's brother on television last night, saying he feels their pain. But the words mean nothing to those who lost loved ones.

Deana Christian, Channon's mother says, "Let them lose one of theirs, and then go through the hell we went through, and then maybe they can say something."

Gary Christian says, "Channon's sitting on our shoulders."


Latest Comments

Posted by: Jeremy Location: Indiana on Sep 24, 2009 at 01:56 PM

May these worthless subhumans rot with dead animals...May the executioner miss 1000 veins so they can think long and hard about their wasted lives. May the injection burn long and hard through every vein in their worthless bodies...May their agony overcome them to the deepest extent...and may they realize that hell awaits in desperation and sorrow until their last seconds of life.
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Posted by: Teresa Location: Knoxville on Aug 26, 2009 at 12:02 AM

May GOD bless the families of the victims. Hope justice for all will come (if there is any for such a crime). Let's don't play the race card here, right is right and wrong is wrong. I hope they all get what is due them. May GOD have mercy on their souls. May the familes take alittle comfort in Channon and Christopher FOREVER with the Lord.
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Posted by: katrina Location: north carolina on Jun 17, 2009 at 01:14 PM

those scum suckers are not human and would be an insult to the animal world...how can five entities induce such torture,rape,sodomy and mutilation...they should be taken out to the wodds and allow the the relatives of each victim bull whip them....after that,how about stripping them naked,cover them with syrup,then force them to lay on hills of fire ants....just before the screaming stops...lynch them and set them on fire for all to see....only than will people have an idea of what that young couple went through that night
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