KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Over the course of the 2 and a half years since the murders, there has been a lot of publicity around the case, and not just from the media.

Other groups have expressed themselves in ways that led to local law enforcement being extra prepared for this trial.

From the television, to the internet, there has been a lot of attention on the 2007 murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

FROM MAY 2007:

White separatists and supremacists came to Knoxville to protest, just months after the murders.

The four accused killers are all black.

Police have said the crime was not race related, but that didn't slow down groups from expressing messages of hate.

FROM FEBRUARY 2009:

Messages were not only aimed at the defendants in the past years.

The attorney for Letalvis Cobbins claims death threats were aimed at him.

Earlier this year, Scott Green said the threats were made against him on local media websites.

Because of these previous incidences, there are extra safety measures that are being taken at the City, County Building. The Knox Co. Sheriff's Department has added increased security outside of the criminal courtroom.

The sheriff's department would not comment on what all they have done to increase security, but multiple armed deputies now sit outside the courtroom, checking everyone and everything before entering.

And the usual security, including metal detectors and video surveillance, are in place around the building to make this a safe trial for everyone.

That increased security will be in place at the courthouse throughout the trial, which is expected to last two weeks.