KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The families of the young Knoxville couple who were carjacked, raped, tortured and murdered had some strong words at Wednesday evening’s sentencing.

Jurors deliberated less than three hours before returning to the courtroom with a unanimous decision on the fate of Letalvis Cobbins, 26. The day before they had convicted him on 33 of the 38 charges he faced in the deaths of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Two of those charges, premeditated murder and felony murder against Christian carried the death penalty.

Jurors spent several hours on Wednesday listening to victim impact statements from the Christian family as well as the pleas of the Cobbins family to save the convicted murderer’s life.

The jury foreman delivered the decision of the 12 member jury at just after 6:45 p.m.

"We the jury find such aggravated circumstances do not outweigh any mitigating circumstances, beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, we the jury unanimously agree that the defendant will be sentenced to imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole."

Upon hearing the verdict, Cobbins took a deep breath and then sat down.

His defense attorneys saved their client’s life, but they didn’t openly rejoice. They admitted the case was difficult and even told the jury that Cobbins was someone they should hate.

"The hardest thing about this case, all the way through, has been the pain and the anguish on the faces of the people who show up for court everyday,” said Scott Green, Cobbins' lead defense attorney. “I think everybody needs to remember them in their prayers. We're relieved, obviously, about the outcome, but a lot of work is left to do."

Knox County prosecutors declined to comment about the outcome of the verdict, explaining that they will not be able to talk about the Cobbins trial until the other three trials related to the murders are complete.

Outside the courtroom, the parents both victims were noticeably upset over the jury’s decision. Both couples agreed it was the jurors and not the prosecution that disappointed them.

“They took our daughter, they raped her, they murdered her and they tortured her. They didn't just kill her," said Gary Christian, Channon’s father. “If there's ever a case in this state that deserved the death penalty… What were they thinking?"

"They let us down," said Mary Newsom, Chris’ mother. "I feel like we let Chris down. We told Chris we'd get them all."

Cobbins was the first of four suspects on trial for the murders of the young couple. The others include Cobbins’ brother and accused ring leader Lemaricus Davidson, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman. A fifth man, Eric Boyd is serving prison time after having already been convicted in federal court of being an accessory to the January 2007 murders.

"This is what she’s supposed to look like and they took that away from me,” said Deena Christian holding a picture of her daughter Channon. “They took that away from her brother. They took Chris away from the Newsom’s and they deserve to die for it, all five of them."

Both families have toured a state prison and believe they aren’t harsh enough for Cobbins.

"It's a God dang girls' school," said Gary. "It ain't a place for normal people, but for that bunch, he just got a lifetime hotel sentence."

“He's going to increase his standard of living by least a factor of 100," said Hugh Newsom, Chris’ father.
Earlier in the day, some of Cobbins’ family members appeared before the jurors to beg the convicted murder’s life.

“I am asking you to please have mercy on him,” said Lakisha Young, Cobbins’ cousin. “Please, I know what he did was wrong, but I love him no less.“

“’Talvis’ would give you his last if he had it,” said Theresa Hullum, another of Cobbins’ cousins. “He is a wonderful person.”

Cobbins’ own sister made a statement about his background. She told jurors his mom was a prostitute and addict who allegedly forced him to deal drugs to support her habit.

“I am so sorry to the family that this has happened,” said Misha Davidson, Cobbins’ sister. “I can not imagine their pain. You may look at me and hate me for what happened, but I love my brother and I know that you all may want him to die because of what happened.

A psychiatrist also testified, explaining he moved around between Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville and Kentucky. During that time he lived with his mother, father, brother Lemaricus and sometimes on the street or in homeless shelters.

“I think they fell for it,” said Mary Newsom after the sentence was handed down.

Cobbins’ three sisters and two cousins who made statements in the morning didn’t stick around to hear the verdict.

"That's how much they're going to take care of their brother in prison," said Deena Christian. “They left the minute they got through with their little sob story. They haven't seen him in eight years and they won’t see him again. They got paid to come down here I’m sure. They have a little family photo and off they go back to Memphis or where ever they're from,"

The Christian and Newsom families both agree their children didn’t get the justice they deserved. They do believe however that the Knoxville community may have.

"This satisfies me in one way,” said Gary Christian outside of the courthouse. “Your kids, your kids and your kids aren’t going to get raped and tortured by Letalvis Cobbins."

Cobbins still faces sentencing on the 31 remaining charges he was found guilty of that didn’t carry a maximum penalty of the death penalty. Judge Richard Baumgartner will sentence him on those charges on November 20th, 2009 at 1:00 p.m.