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Thread: Lemaricus Devall Davidson - Tennessee Death Row

  1. #61
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    UPDATE: Prosecutors undecided on whether to seek death penalty for Eric Boyd

    By Hayes Hickman
    The Knoxville News-Sentinel

    Knox County prosecutors said they have not decided whether the state will seek the death penalty for Eric Boyd - the long-suspected fifth perpetrator in the horrific 2007 torture slayings of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom - during his first court appearance Thursday.

    Boyd, shackled and wearing an striped inmate jumpsuit, did not enter a plea to newly unsealed charges of kidnapping, rape and murder at his arraignment in Knox County Criminal Court.

    Judge Bob McGee appointed lawyer Clinton Frazier to represent Boyd. McGee set a tentative trial date for Sept. 10. A status hearing is set for June 6.

    On March 20, a Knox County grand jury returned a 36-count presentment against Boyd, 46, on charges including first-degree murder, felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape.

    Christian, a 21-year-old University of Tennessee student, and her boyfriend, Newsom, 23, were carjacked by a group of men in the parking lot of a North Knoxville apartment Jan. 6, 2007.

    Both victims were beaten, raped and tortured. Newsom was executed within a few hours of the abduction and his body was set on fire. Christian is believed to have been held captive in a small Chipman Street rental home in East Knoxville for another 24 hours, during which she was repeatedly assaulted. Ultimately, she was wrapped in garbage bags, stuffed inside a trash can and left to die, slowly suffocating.

    Three men - Lemaricus Davidson; his brother, Letalvis Cobbins; and Cobbins' friend, George Thomas, all were convicted in state court for the murders and rapes. Davidson was sentenced to death. Cobbins and Thomas received life sentences.

    Cobbins' girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, also was convicted as an accessory to the crimes and currently is serving a 35-year prison sentence.

    Authorities have long said they believe Boyd participated in the rapes and killings, but they lacked the evidence to charge him. He is serving an 18-year federal prison sentence for harboring Davidson, the group's ringleader, after the fact.

    The grand jury's presentment was unsealed after Boyd was transferred from federal custody in Yazoo City, Miss. this week to face state charges in Knox County. Prosecutors have not indicated what evidence they have against him now. Boyd has denied any involvement in the crimes.

    For the past 11 years, Newsom's parents, Hugh and Mary Newsom, have pushed for prosecution of Boyd, whom they believe raped and killed their son.

    "There's overwhelming evidence," Hugh Newsom said outside Thursday's hearing. "It may be classified as circumstantial ... but as long as the jury uses common sense, it should be evident what he did."

    The Newsoms said they have not discussed the option of the death penalty with the Knox County District Attorney General's office.

    "If they feel that's the way to go, then we'll go with it," Mary Newsom said. "It's up to them."

    Knox County Deputy District Attorney General Leland Price told McGee he expects a decision will be announced "very quickly."

    The Newsoms, along with Christian's parents, Gary and Deena Christian, have attended hundreds of court hearings spanning seven trials, including two retrials, in the case.

    Despite the emotional toll thus far, the families said they're ready to continue their fight for justice.

    "We're glad to get this started," Hugh Newsom said. "We can handle it."

    Ahead of Thursday's arraignment, McGee denied a motion by Knoxville News Sentinel attorney Rick Hollow requesting permission to photograph the hearing.

    "This case is very significant to the people of Knox County," Hollow told the judge. "I think the people have a genuine interest in every phase of the proceedings."

    McGee acknowledged the hearing was quickly scheduled, leaving media outlets unable to file requests to use cameras in the courtroom with the required 48 hours advance notice.

    Without elaborating, the judge cited "security considerations."

    McGee also stressed his responsibility to ensure a fair trial, noting that without a lawyer yet appointed, Boyd had not had the opportunity to be dressed in street clothes for his appearance, as is customary for defendants when cameras are allowed in the courtroom.

    "Someone in jail garb is a very, very powerful image," the judge said.

    McGee said there will be many proceedings to come in the case that the public will be welcome to record.

    "This," he said, "isn't one of them."

    https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/...som/485399002/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  2. #62
    Administrator Aaron's Avatar
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    Dad says Channon Christian's killer deserves same fate as Billy Ray Irick

    KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) - Lemaricus Davidson has been on death row aince October 30, 2009, and Gary Christian has been waiting for the day he's executed.

    "I hope that they will get Davidson to that point as soon as possible," said Christian.

    Davidson was given two death sentences for the murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom. The Knox County couple was carjacked, raped, tortured and murdered in January 2007.

    While Davidson is still on death row, Christian says he hopes the family of seven-year-old Paula Dyer will get their justice Thursday with the scheduled execution of her rapist and killer Billy Ray Irick.

    "What he did, he got what he deserved and it's time," said Christian. "I hope that everything goes off without any intervention."

    Petitions have been signed and appeals have been filed in attempt to stop Irick's execution. Those opposed describe the lethal injection protocol as unethical and inhumane. Christian says he disagrees.

    "I've got some pictures I'll show them of what pain is," said Christian. "Laying on a cot and some chemicals going in your arm, if that's too painful, what would they say to me about what was done to Channon?"

    Christian says while he hopes Irick's execution brings peace to Paula's family, it may not bring closure for them, just like Davidson's may not for him.

    "There's certain things that will bring closure too, but there's families' loss. Nothing will bring closure to that," said Christian.

    https://www.wate.com/news/local-news...ick/1355645126
    Don't ask questions, just consume product and then get excited for next products.

    "They will hurt you. They will hurt your grandma, these people. The root cause of this is there's no discipline in the homes, they don't go to school, you know, they live off the government, no personal accountability, and they just beat people up for no reason, and it's disgusting." - Former Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters

  3. #63
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Any chance this guy will get executed soon? He has to be one of the worst on TN DR.
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  4. #64
    Administrator Aaron's Avatar
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    Unfortunately not. He still has a lot of federal appeals left. The only silver lining is that Tennessee is back in the game, and can execute him once his appeals end.
    Don't ask questions, just consume product and then get excited for next products.

    "They will hurt you. They will hurt your grandma, these people. The root cause of this is there's no discipline in the homes, they don't go to school, you know, they live off the government, no personal accountability, and they just beat people up for no reason, and it's disgusting." - Former Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters

  5. #65
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    Prosecutors stick with life, judge sticks with August trial in Eric Boyd case

    By Jamie Satterfield
    Knoxville News Sentinel

    The trial date for the fifth — and final — suspect in the now 13-year-old torture slayings of a Knox County couple won’t change and, for now at least, neither will his fate if he is convicted.

    Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee on Thursday held a brief hearing in the case of Eric Dewayne Boyd — charged last year in the January 2007 slayings of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23.

    At the hearing, McGee pressed prosecutors Leland Price and TaKisha Fitzgerald on whether they’ve had a change of heart in the punishment they will seek should Boyd be convicted.

    The pair in September said they did not intend to seek either the death penalty or life without parole if Boyd is convicted.

    But McGee wanted to be sure.

    Judge: Are you sure?

    Defendants facing the death penalty or life without parole are afforded greater procedural protections, and McGee himself would get the aid of a legal specialist in capital cases — Susan Jones.

    Jones, though, is already handling a death penalty case in August — when Boyd’s trial is currently set to proceed.

    “If the state wants to avail itself (of the death penalty), the trial will have to be reset,” McGee said.

    Price assured McGee there would be no change in the state’s stance. Boyd is 46yearsold so even a life sentence with the possibility of parole after a mandatory 51 years in prison would effectively be a death sentence for him.

    With that assurance, McGee said the Aug. 5 trial date will stand.

    Boyd is currently serving an 18-year federal prison term for harboring convicted torture slaying ringleader Lemaricus Davidson. He is set to go free in 2022. He has long been a suspect in the slayings but escaped prosecution until last year. It’s still not clear why the state delayed.

    Davidson is on death row for the carjacking, kidnapping, rapes and slayings of Christian and Newsom — who were held inside Davidson’s Chipman Street house before Newsom was executed alongside nearby railroad tracks and Christian was left to die inside a trash can in his kitchen.

    Davidson’s brother, Letalvis Cobbins, was sentenced to life without parole as was his friend, George Thomas. Cobbins’ girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, was acquitted in the crimes against Newsom and convicted of lesser charges in Christian’s slaying. She is serving 35 years.

    The pair were headed out for a date when they were carjacked, taken to Davidson’s house, beaten, raped, tortured and, ultimately, killed.

    https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/...yd/2464659002/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  6. #66
    Moderator Ryan's Avatar
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    Lemaricus Davidson: New trial sought for Knox death row inmate in Christian-Newsom case

    Find a fair jury in Knox County? Everyone said it couldn't be done.

    To the lawyers for Lemaricus Davidson, that sounded like a challenge - and maybe a last chance.

    "I think even the judge thought we were crazy," defense attorney Doug Trant testified Monday. "But I told Lemaricus, we could bring in a jury from Mars, and if they believed what the prosecutors said he did, they would give him the death penalty."

    The crime on Chipman Street

    A Knox County jury sentenced Davidson to death nearly 10 years ago for his role as ringleader in the carjacking, rape, torture and killing of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom in January 2007. Christian and Newsom were on a date when Davidson and four others — Letalvis Cobbins, Eric Boyd, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman — kidnapped them at gunpoint.

    The couple spent their last hours as captives in Davidson's rental house on Chipman Street in East Knoxville. Police later found Newsom's burned body along the nearby railroad tracks and Christian's body in a garbage can where she'd suffocated.

    Monday marked the start of hearings set to last through much of the week as lawyers for Davidson seek to convince Senior Judge Walter Kurtz that Davidson's 2009 trial was flawed and that the jury's verdict should be thrown out.

    Assistant capital defenders William Howell and J. David Watkins focused questions for Davidson's initial attorneys, Trant and David Eldridge, on defense strategy, pretrial publicity and a mob atmosphere they argue surrounded the case.

    A hometown strategy

    Under Tennessee law, only the defense could ask for an outside jury to hear the trial. The defense team didn't expect to find a dozen impartial jurors in Knox County - and secretly hoped not to, Trant suggested.

    "I told (Davidson) if we were not able to seat a jury, he could not be convicted," Trant testified.

    Trant said he hoped if jury proceedings became interminable, prosecutors might offer Davidson a plea deal on a reduced charge. Randy Nichols, then Knox County district attorney general, had approached the defense at one point to ask whether Davidson would consider a guilty plea in exchange for life in prison without parole. Davidson said no.

    "The evidence was overwhelming and very damaging," Trant recalled. "But Mr. Davidson just was not interested in life without parole at any time. As I understood him, he would just as soon have death."

    The defense ended up with a jury from Knox County, a verdict of guilty, a sentence of death - and regrets from Davidson.

    "I remember when he got the death sentence, he cried," Trant said. "He said it was one thing to anticipate a death sentence and another to actually get it."

    Drugs and death threats

    Davidson's trial was the third to be tried in the case, after Boyd's conviction in federal court for harboring Davidson as a fugitive after the killings and Cobbins' conviction in state court for murder. White separatists held two rallies downtown "in honor of" Christian and Newsom, and Trant and Eldridge said they and their staff received death threats as the case went to trial.

    "I don't believe any other case I've handled before or since got this level of publicity," Eldridge testified.

    FBI agents got involved after the threats got specific - and personal.

    "There was one threat that snipers would pick us off as we were going to court," Trant testified. "At one time my daughter received a threat. I told the press that if anything happened to my daughter, whoever was responsible would not have to worry about going to court."

    Trant said he wasn't surprised to learn the presiding judge, Richard Baumgartner, had been abusing prescription painkillers throughout the trial - nor was anyone else.

    "Judge Baumgartner's reputation had always been that he did illegal drugs throughout his legal and judicial career," Trant said. "I remember one time he came to my house for dinner and asked me if I had any hydrocodone (an opioid)."

    Davidson's conviction nearly fell apart after revelations in 2011 of Baumgartner's drug abuse on the bench. The judge resigned, pleaded guilty to official misconduct and later served time in federal prison for lying to investigators. He died last year.

    But the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Davidson's attorneys failed to show "structural error" during his trial. That's the threshold his new defense team will try to meet this time.

    https://eu.knoxnews.com/story/news/c...ty/2702071002/
    "How do you get drunk on death row?" - Werner Herzog

    "When we get fruit, we get the juice and water. I ferment for a week! It tastes like chalk, it's nasty" - Blaine Keith Milam #999558 Texas Death Row

  7. #67
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    Knox County to hold trial in notorious 2007 murder case


    By Associated Press

    KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee judge announced Knox County will hold the trial for a man accused of helping kidnap, torture and kill a couple in a 2007 carjacking.


    Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee rejected Eric Boyd's request on Thursday to move his Aug. 5 trial to another location, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports.

    Boyd was indicted on murder charges last year after new evidence emerged allegedly linking him to the attack of 21-year-old ChannonChristian and her boyfriend 23-year-old Christopher Newsom in Knoxville, Tennessee, 12 years ago. Boyd was convicted of harboring a fugitive in 2008, and is serving an 18-year sentence related to the attack. Now, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. They say he helped kidnap, rape and kill Newsom.

    Boyd is the last of five suspects to face trial in the case, the paper reports. Boyd's attorney says he's worried about bias, as the previous trials in the case have drawn national publicity and animosity from Knox County citizens. The case became racially charged: The victims were white and the defendants were black. However, the county's assistant district attorney argues past high-publicity cases have been tried successfully without problems in the county.

    Alleged ringleader of the attack, Lemaricus Davidson, was the only other suspect tried in the slayings by a Knox County jury. He was sentenced to death. His brother, Letalvis Cobbinsis, is serving life without parole. Cobbins' friend, George Thomas, is serving two consecutive life terms. Cobbins girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, was deemed a facilitator and is serving 35 years.

    https://newschannel9.com/news/local/...07-murder-case
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  8. #68
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    GUILTY: Eric Boyd found guilty on all counts in Christian-Newsom case

    KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- After more than a week, a Knox County jury found Eric Boyd guilty on all counts in connection to the crimes against Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

    The jury returned the guilty verdict on Aug. 13 after hours of deliberation preceded by days of testimony from the families of the victims, acquaintances and family of Boyd and the testimony from another killer convicted in the case, George Thomas.

    The families of the victims spoke to the public and media after the trial ended.

    "Today, Chris got the justice he deserved," said Mary Newsom, the mother of Christopher. Christopher's father, Hugh, said, "I think I can go to the grave now satisfied I fought a good fight."

    Channon's father, Gary Christian, said, "We'll never get justice, but this gets us closer."

    Boyd was found guilty on 36 counts including first-degree felony murder of Christopher Newsom and first-degree felony murder of Channon Christian. Boyd was found guilty on all counts but was found guilty of a lesser charge of aggravated robbery rather than especially aggravated robbery.

    https://www.wvlt.tv/content/news/GUI...540242851.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  9. #69
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
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    Lemaricus Davidson exhausted his state appeals in 2017. He’s most likely as of now awaiting the denial of his habeas corpus, which could take years
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  10. #70
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
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    I'm pretty sure he is still at the state level post-conviction phase. With the issues relating to the judge's drug problem, it could drag out for a while.

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