Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, the victims of the January 6-7, 2007 Knoxville Horror. [My reader-researcher David in Tennessee sent the following update on the Knoxville Horror case Thursday. Letalvis Cobbins had already been sentenced to “life without parole” in August for murder and aggravated rape, but had additional convictions outstanding, for the Horror.]
Today, Judge Baumgartner sentenced Letalvis Cobbins to life, plus 100 Years. You will recall that the Judge brought in a jury from Nashville for the trial of Cobbins last August.
Letalvis Cobbins at Thursday’s sentencing hearing, with a new perm and defense counsel, Kimberly Parton.From Jamie Satterfield’s twitter reports, we learn that Judge Baumgartner said that Cobbins can’t blame his half-brother, Davidson. The judge said that even if he had a rough childhood, Cobbins’ sister overcame it. Baumgartner “can’t comprehend how someone could commit crimes like this.”
You could explain it to him, couldn’t you?
Judge Baumgartner finally said it was the “worst of the worst.”
As you wrote, he didn’t want them found not guilty, he just opposed the death penalty.
Judge Richard Baumgartner
at Cobbins’ sentencing hearing.
[Later, David sent the follow-up message below.]
Here is Jamie Satterfield’s KNS story on today’s sentencing. The commenters believe that “life in prison” means life.
KNOXVILLE - A Knox County judge today stacked 100 years to convicted killer Letalvis Cobbins’ life without parole sentence.
The time was for crimes committed leading up the deaths of Knox County couple Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23, in January 2007.
‘This is the worst of the worst,’ Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner said. ‘If ever there was a case that deserved maximum sentencing, this case deserves maximum sentencing.’
[NS: If that’s his true opinion, i.e., that Cobbins deserved the death penalty, then why did he tamper with the jury’s potential demographics, in order to preclude that possibility?]
The decision came after a hearing to determine whether Cobbins should receive additional punishment for crimes that preceded the deaths of the University of Tennessee student and her boyfriend, a trim carpenter.
Newsom’s father had made an extraordinary appeal to his son’s killer during the hearing.
‘All you have to do is testify in a grand jury hearing stating who participated in grabbing Chris and Channon ... all you have to do is make arrangements before you go back to prison to testify before a grand jury and at Eric Boyd’s trial,’ Hugh Newsom told Cobbins.
‘All you have to do is tell the truth.’…
Cobbins answered him with silence.
Christopher Newsom’s parents, Hugh and Mary at Lemaricus Davidson’s trial last October. Davidson is the only one of the killers so far to be sentenced to death.
Boyd is serving a federal prison sentence for hiding out Cobbins’ brother, Lemaricus Davidson. He has long been suspected in the slayings, but so far authorities have not been able to gather enough evidence to bring murder charges against him.
Eric Boyd
Cobbins had testified at his own trial that Boyd and Davidson killed Chris Newsom….”
“Judge stacks 100 years to Cobbins’ life-without-parole sentence” by Jamie Satterfield, Knoxville News Sentinel, February 25, 2010.
The 100-year sentencing enhancement is meaningless and, along with the original sentence of “life without parole,” can be reversed with the flourish of a governor’s pen.
Channon Christian’s parents, Gary and Deena, at Cobbins’ sentencing hearing.
Is there any research detailing the treatment of black convicts who kill whites when they get into prison and around white convicts?
ReplyDeleteIs there racial tension between black murderers of whites and the white inmate population?
Are white inmates politically correct?
j'KoaH, I haven't seen any research about that specifically but I gather that whites are a small minority in most prisons and thus are in a constant struggle for survival. I doubt that white prison gangs have the leeway to go around avenging interracial murders, even if they wanted to. Also, most prisons are savvy enough to do everything in their power to keep the races separate.
ReplyDeleteWhat is astounding to me is that THIS, perhaps one of the most horrific rape, torture, murders ever to occur in America....certainly both more grisly and more costly (two victims instead of one) than the James Byrd murder that warranted so much national attention AND at least two death sentences...has garnered NONE of the media attention the Byrd killing did.
ReplyDeleteWe are constantly told that newsrooms are reluctant to report on such atrocities for fear of stoking "white racial hatred."
Well, for one thing, that's an admission, on the part of those who'd say that, that they agree that THAT is a rational and justified reaction to such abominations.
But that's a bogus charge. There has never been any evidence of any significant white backlash against blacks post WW II.
So what's the real reason for their reluctance?
Such killings don't fit their Leftist meme about "racist, sexist, homophobic America."
Our media is and has long been Corporately owned and as such has been part and parcel of the "pseudo-elite internationalists."
As far as white inmates and revenge for murders...it all depends on the prison system/prison. Some parts of the country (Northeast, South) the white inmates are not organized and white individuals focus on survival etc. Other prison/systems (such as Most western, mountain, and some mid-western states) black inmates such as these would have every reason to check into protective custody as they would likely get brutalized/killed by white inmates.
ReplyDeleteJust would like to add without even reading this....that is NOT a PERM...ingact is the very OPPOSITE of a fresh perm...His hair is very kinky and those are called BANTU KNOTS. You're welcome
ReplyDelete