KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- After pushing for a speedy trial and winning a battle with prosecutors to have George Thomas tried first in the four-defendant Channon Christian-Christopher Newsom murder case, Thomas' defense attorneys asked the judge to drop the speedy trial motion and push the trial date back.

Judge Richard Baumgartner rescheduled Thomas' trial for Aug. 10, 2009. His trial was supposed to start Aug. 11 of this year.

Deena Christian, Channon Christian’s mother, said she was in full support the District Attorney's decision. Both families said they are ready for the other suspects trials to begin. The first will not start in January.

George Thomas, Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, and Vanessa Coleman all face more than 40 charges in the carjacking, kidnapping, rape and murder of Channon Christian and Cristopher Newsom in January 2007.