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Old July 9th, 2007 #1
Alex Linder
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Default Christian-Newsom Update 7/9/07

Judge releases house in fatal carjacking of Christian, Newsom

Chipman Street address alleged site of torture of Knoxville couple

News Sentinel staff
Originally published 11:12 a.m., July 9, 2007
Updated 11:12 a.m., July 9, 2007



Photo by Jigsha Desai

The house at 2316 Chipman St., where the body of Channon Christian was found.


A Knox County Criminal Court judge today released a house where a Knoxville couple allegedly was taken after a carjacking and was beaten, raped and slain.

The house at 2316 Chipman Street was being rented by a suspect in the fatal carjacking and had been a crime scene since the alleged crime spree in January.

Judge Richard Baumgartner returned the house to its owner.

None of the four people charged in the kidnapping, rape and murders of University of Tennessee student Channon Christian, 21, and her boyfriend Christopher Newsom, 23, was in court for the hearing.

Awaiting trial are brothers Lemaricus “Slim” Davidson, 25, and Letalvis “Rome” Cobbins, 24, and alleged co-conspirators George “Detroit” Thomas, 24, and Cobbins’ girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, 19.

The house on Chipman Street, in which Davidson had been living with a girlfriend, is where authorities believe Christian and Newsom were taken at gunpoint after the pair was confronted.

Court records allege that Christian and Newsom initially were the targets of a carjacking but wound up being held hostage, beaten and raped. Newsom ultimately was shot to death and his body bound, set on fire and dumped alongside railroad tracks near Davidson’s Chipman Street home, records alleged.

Christian was strangled, her body wrapped in trash bags and discarded in a trash can, records show. Authorities have not revealed whether she was already dead when stuffed into the garbage can or died while inside it, nor have they disclosed the exact cause of her death.

Cobbins’ trial has been set for May 12, 2008. The remaining trial dates, all in 2008, are: Coleman, June 16; Davidson, July 14; and Thomas, Aug. 11.

A fifth suspect, Eric Boyd, is awaiting trial on federal charges of trying to help Davidson escape.

More details as they develop online and in Tuesday’s News Sentinel.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/ju...king-slayings/









[WBIR]

Suspect's house in Christian, Newsom murders returned to owner

By: Katie Allison Granju, Producer

Date created: 7/9/2007 3:29:46 PM
Last updated: 7/9/2007 3:46:42 PM




The Chipman Street residence where the body of Channon Christian was found




The rental house where police say a Knoxville couple was beaten, raped and murdered is being returned to its owner.
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Authorities believe murder victims Chris Newsom and Channon Christian were taken to the small house on Chipman Street in Knoxville after they were carjacked last January. At the time, the house was occupied by one of the suspects.

Investigators said in court Monday that they have now processed all necessary evidence from the Chipman Street residence, allowing the judge to return it to its owner.

None of the four suspects charged in the crime were in court Monday.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story...provider=gnews







Attorneys disagree about SUV in couple's double murder case

July 9, 2007

By HANA KIM
Good Morning Tennessee Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Attorneys disagreed about a victim's SUV during a status hearing Monday for the suspects in the double murders of a young Knoxville couple.

The 2005 Toyota 4 Runner that was driven by Channon Christian was found on January 9 near where police found her body in a house on Chipman Street in East Knoxville.

The body of her boyfriend, Christopher Newsom, was found two days earlier, near a set of railroad tracks. The couple was last seen by friends while they were on a date.

During the status hearing, attorneys for both sides argued over the 4 Runner, which was a rental car.

State prosecutors say invesigators have collected all the evidence they need from the 4 Runner. The state now wants to return it to the business.

But defense attorneys blocked that motion, saying they need more information from the state before the 4 Runner can be released.

The defense attorneys did agree to lift restrictions from the home on Chipman Street.

None of the four suspects, Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman, was in court for Monday's hearing. They're facing murder, rape and kidnapping charges in the case.

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6763152&nav=0RYv


Christian – Newsom murder suspects' attorneys in court

Posted: 12:06 PM Jul 9, 2007
Last Updated: 12:06 PM Jul 9, 2007

Knoxville (WVLT) - Attorneys for the four suspects in the brutal rape and murder of a Knoxville couple appeared in court Monday.

Lemaricus Davidson; his brother, Letalvis Cobbins; and George Thomas were indicted on 46 counts, including first-degree murder.

Vanessa Coleman was indicted on 40 counts, also including murder, in connection with the deaths of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

Monday, a judge instructed the suspects to next appear in court on July 30th, with a formal hearing now set for October fourth.

Separate trials are set for next year, beginning with Cobbins on May 12th.

Prosecutors have not said yet whether they'll seek the death penalty.




http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/8391002.html