A Knox County jury today put torture-slaying alleged ringleader Lemaricus Davidson on the path to death.
With a sweeping set of guilty verdicts on all murder counts, thefive-woman, seven-man jury set the stage for the state’s bid Thursdayto seek Davidson’s life as punishment for the January 2007 deaths ofChannon Christian and Christopher Newsom (Link).
“The people of Knox County are the ones who took care of our kids today,” said Deena Christian, mother of Channon Christian.
“We finally have the justice our kids deserve,” said Mary Newsom, mother of Chris Newsom.
Jurors also found Davidson, 28, guilty of the kidnapping and robberyof the couple, rejecting defense claims the pair went willingly toDavidson’s Chipman Street house.
They also deemed him guilty of multiple rapes of Christian, 21. Theywere unable to conclude whether Davidson raped Newsom, 23, and insteadreturned lesser verdicts of facilitation of Newsom’s rape.
Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner sent the jury back to thehotel where they have been sequestered throughout the trial. They willreturn Thursday to hear proof in the penalty phase of the trial.
The jury, selected from Knox County at Davidson’s insistence, heardtestimony over seven days and deliberated about five hours Tuesdayafternoon before returning this morning.
As they began deliberations today, they asked to see Davidson’stwo-hour videotaped interview with police. They viewed about an hour ofthe tape before returning to deliberations.
Davidson did not testify in his trial, but his attorneys laid thetorture-slayings on the “gang from Kentucky,” his co-defendants.
Already convicted in the slayings is his brother, Letalvis Cobbins, 26, who is serving a sentence of life without parole.
Co-defendant George Thomas, 26, is to set to be tried Dec. 1 by ajury to be chosen from Chattanooga in mid-November. Suspect VanessaColeman, 21, is being allowed to appeal a key ruling over immunity sono trial date has been set for her.
A fifth defendant, Eric Boyd, was convicted in federal court ofbeing an accessory after the fact for hiding Davidson. He is serving an18-year prison sentence and has not been charged in state court.
More details as they develop online and in Thursday’s News Sentinel.