Horror in Knoxville update: Guilty verdict in Christian-Newsom murders

By Michelle Malkin  •  October 28, 2009 04:51 PM

The Christian-Newsom murder case has never received much national media attention, but it touched countless Americans across the country who have not forgotten. Here’s the latest development. Keep the victims’ families in your prayers:

The man accused of being the ringleader of a carjacking that turned into the rapes and murders of a Tennessee couple was convicted of the most serious charges and now faces the death penalty.

The jury, which deliberated a little more than 8 hours before returning the verdict against Lemaricus Davidson, 28, Tuesday was hearing evidence Wednesday on whether to sentence him to death.

Davidson was tried on 38 counts, including premeditated murder, felony murder, robbery, kidnapping, rape and theft in the 2007 deaths of University of Tennessee student Channon Christian, 21, and her boyfriend Christopher Newsom, 23.

The only not guilty findings were on three counts relating to the rape of Newsom, and Davidson was found guilty of the lesser crime of facilitation on those counts.

Davidson showed no emotion as he heard the jury’s verdict. Newsom’s family followed the readings closely but showed little reaction, while Christian’s father rocked back and forth and occasionally pumped his fist as guilty verdicts were announced.

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Comments


  1. #101
    On October 29th, 2009 at 7:51 pm, CW4_KGP said:

    mainah,

    Some of us HAVE lived it. And there can be no rest in our soul until justice, real true justice, is done.

    Hurt my child, hurt my wife, hurt my dog and I will hunt you down like the rabid animal you are and hurt you more. No empty threat. A full blown promise.

    (Note: “You”, as used above is the collective, not a personalization, and should not be taken as a threat to anyone in particular at this time.)

  2. #102
    On October 29th, 2009 at 11:40 pm, Dan Lee said:

    I’m from Tennessee.. I would prefer to have them all hanging from the gallows in the Public Square in Knoxville, until the buzzards pick them down to the bone.. Good example for other current or “would be” Hood Rats..

  3. #103
    On October 30th, 2009 at 10:27 am, Dexter Alarius said:

    I would not criticize this jury for taking eight hours. It means they are doing their job.

    I wonder what they did for the other 7 hours and 59 minutes.

  4. #104
    On October 30th, 2009 at 11:59 am, yohannbiimu said:

    If this had been a black couple who had been savaged and murdered by a white man, it would most certainly had gotten a LOT of coverage–the race-hustlers would have been screaming that it was a “hate crime,” and there probably would be marches throughout America on its anniversary to mark how far America had to go as far as its race relations and “social justice.”

    Just pointing out the obvious…that’s all…

  5. #105
    On October 30th, 2009 at 12:13 pm, yohannbiimu said:

    #
    On October 29th, 2009 at 4:23 pm, emjem24 said:

    One more thought, I may not be overly religious but I despise people out there who think because they go to church every Sunday (like my liberal brother-in-law and his saintlike family) that that makes them better than the rest of us. I hate this moralizing BS who wants empathy for scum like this monster just to feel that being a good Christian makes you a “better” human being.

    Religion doesn’t protect any of us. I have no problem with religion or those who practice it, only in those who are hypocrites for not following its tenants and lecturing the rest of us on what we’re missing in our own lives.

    So many “Christians” have no idea what the Bible says, and only have this weak, squishy FEELING about everything that says that the criminal is the REAL victim, and that he needs compassion, not punishment and justice as the consequences for his vile actions. If you go through God’s commandments, it tells clearly that for the taking of a life, the taker’s must be taken. I do not believe that there is anyplace where God changed his mind on this issue.

    Capital punishment is the result of Adam’s fall–he is the blame for all rebellion, corruption, fraud, and death throughout history…for one act of disobedience. How anyone can argue that their beliefs that are based upon the BIBLE tell them that capital punishment is wrong is beyond me. It comes from people who don’t read and understand the scriptures that they purportedly hold to.

  6. #106
    On October 30th, 2009 at 6:11 pm, Mainah said:

    once again, I am for the death penalty in certain cases. I am not for torturing anyone to death. I am also not a church-goer, a Bible thumper, nor do I think (or have I ever said) I am better than anyone. what I did say was that I think it is wrong to want to tortue to death any human being. even the one that killed my 3 yr old son. I would have been ok with him getting the death penalty, but I would not have watched. I have had my fill of evil for a lifetime. I prefer to die without the blood of any living person on my hands or conscience. If that makes me less than in anyones eyes, then so be it.

  7. #107
    On November 1st, 2009 at 11:14 am, zeroangel said:

    Maniah:

    You are right and you are a decent person. I’m with you.

  8. #108
    On November 23rd, 2009 at 6:00 am, theloneranger said:

    I’d like to see them tortured to death. They deserve it.

  9. #109
    On November 24th, 2009 at 1:32 pm, Dread Pirate Roberts VIII said:

    On October 29th, 2009 at 11:40 pm, Dan Lee said:
    I’m from Tennessee.. I would prefer to have them all hanging from the gallows in the Public Square in Knoxville, until the buzzards pick them down to the bone.. Good example for other current or “would be” Hood Rats..

    Hanging’s too good for them.

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