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Murder trials may be delayed for 4 suspects in Christian-Newsom Case Save Email Print
Posted: 12:09 PM Jan 23, 2008
Last Updated: 11:12 AM Jan 24, 2008
Reporter: Brian Gregory, Rob Pratt

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- It's been more than a year since a young couple was brutally murdered in a carjacking in East Knoxville.

Now it may be another year before the first of the four accused killers goes on trial.

Letalvis Cobbins, Lemaricus Davidson, George Thomas, and Vanessa Coleman are each charged with murder.

Prosecutors say they killed Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom in January 2007.

Volunteer TV's court report Rob Pratt has more.

Prosecutors want Cobbins to stand trial first, and they want the death penalty.

His lawyer says four more months is not enough time to get ready, and the judge seems ready to agree.

Accused killer Letalvis Cobbins will be on trial for his life.

The question now is when?

Not on May 12 if Cobbin's lawyer Kim Parton gets her way.

"Frankly, I've been involved in a number of death penalty cases, and I can state to the court that it is impossible in this case with various witnesses out of county and out of state, and so forth, to be ready."

Parton says she has another death penalty case in another county in September.

With some of the evidence that the state is required to share in Cobbin's case continuing to trickle in, Parton says the trial should not begin until January 2009.

Leland Price, Asst. District Attorney General says, "I'm sympathetic to defense counsel's position, and all the work that needs to go into preparing a death penalty case, but we'd like to get it done in May if at all possible."

Judge Richard Baumgartner won't rule on the motion to delay the trial until a hearing February 14, but he's already giving strong hints as to how he'll rule.

He says the May trial date is not realistic.

Prosecutors get to choose the order of the trials, and they still want Cobbins first.

That means the three other cases may be delayed too.

The judge first said prosecutors would have to announce by February 14th if they will seek the death penalty or life without parole against the other three defendants.

But their lawyers don't want to rush prosecutors into making that decision, and they convinced the judge to back off on that deadline.

Cobbins' lawyer also says she'll ask that the trial be moved to another county due to extensive publicity.

Judge Baumgartner says he'll consider that motion, but he would bring jurors from another county to Knoxville rather than taking the trial on the road.

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Posted by: MARY Location: CLEVELAND,OHIO on May 21, 2008 at 12:37 PM
I AM NOT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY BUT IN THIS CASE -- IT IS WELL DESERVED. WE READ NOTHING ABOUT THIS IN CLEVELAND. MURDER IS ONE THING BUT THE TORTURE THAT THIS CHANNON AND CHRIS HAD TO GO THROUGH BEFORE THE DEATH IS HORRENDOUS. IF I WERE ON THE JURY I WOULD NOT HESITATE TO CHARGE THESE "CREATURES" WITH MURDER AND GIVE THEM THE DEATH PENALTY.

Posted by: Jen Location: California on Jan 29, 2008 at 01:37 AM
Out of the country? Didn't know any of these guys were members of the jet set. Time to get these guys out of jail and off to prison. Kim Parton ought to stop milking the system for attorneys fees and step up to the plate. It's been a year. Trial time is long overdue.

Posted by: Sharon----....---- Location: Knoxville on Jan 24, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Is there anyone out here that knows these people are not guilty?????Come on now, they didn't think about delaying the murder of these two young people!!!They deserve no mercy and should have already been put to death as well and not ever be given the opportunity to kill again!!!!!

Posted by: Tammy Location: Knoxville on Jan 24, 2008 at 12:11 PM
This case needs major national attention cause they are getting away with sitting in prison(freakin hair done, what is that) while the family and friends of Christian/Newsom are stuffing everyday w/out them and knowing what these monsters have done to them, haunts us all. I am sick of this justice system allowing the trial to keep getting postponed...It's not fair at all, no matter what their color is. What matters is they need to pay for what they have done to two wonderful people that we now mourn...I want what the families want and that is to go to trial as scheduled!!!! We need victory for Channon and Chris...Amen If you feel the same way please keep posting until we are heard!!!!!!!! Luv y'all Christians..

Posted by: doesitmatter Location: knoxville on Jan 24, 2008 at 12:00 PM
They have known for a year now the death penelty was going to be sought. They should have started then to prepare these animals for the end of their lives. As far as going out of the county. Is the jury not a jury of their peers. Well their peers happen to live in this county. Why do they always get all the rights and Channon and Chris received NONE and not even a second thought of mercy. Thats just what these animals should get NO MERCY!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: ozlon Location: knoxville on Jan 24, 2008 at 03:33 AM
Plain and simple, fry them now and quit spending the money to feed them. Oh h*ll, must be the NAACP OR JESSIE AND AL KNOCKING AT MY DOOR

Posted by: gary Location: knoxville on Jan 23, 2008 at 02:17 PM
yea that figures moncier must be these jerks lawyer they done it confessed so why a trial put them away or death quickly so other druggies will get the hint so this horrible crime doesnt happen again

Posted by: Someone Location: TN on Jan 23, 2008 at 01:51 PM
How many delays did these people give the victims? Why should they be awarded delays? Why do we as a society continue to support criminals? I think that we could save a lot of money if we just bought some rope. No one should be able to drag out something this long in hopes of a defense to such a brutal crime. They did not give these two young people a year before killing them, why should we???????????

Posted by: Jamie Location: Mascot on Jan 23, 2008 at 01:38 PM
I dont really believe in the Death Penalty, but in the case of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom ,I think all involved should face every thing they put them thru. Know one should have to endure the torture they or their families went thru! My heart goes out to all their loved ones.

Posted by: justice4all Location: TENNESSEE on Jan 23, 2008 at 12:41 PM
for the family's sake, get this over with already. nothing will ever bring their children back, but seeing these people over and over again won't help either. it is time to deal with them, and sentence them all to deathrow! should've already happened, b/c it has been over a year. THAT IS TOO LONG! CHANGE THE SYSTEM, AND TN BE THE FIRST TO DO THIS! DEATHROW AS SOON AS THEY ARE CAPTURED,B/C I WOULD MUCH RATHER PAY TAXES ON ENDING THEIR LIVES INSTEAD OF KEEPING THEM ALIVE. ALIVE FOR WHAT? WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO W/ THEIR LIVES NOW?