Christian and Newsom families react to day one of Coleman trialPosted: Nov 14, 2012 3:13 PM Updated: Nov 14, 2012 5:39 PM
By ALEXIS ZOTOS
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Day one of the Vanessa Coleman retrial was a long, and at times, emotional day, with 14 different witness testimonies and two very different cases laid out by the state and defense in their opening arguments.
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The state painted a detailed picture of what they maintain happened to Channon Christian and her boyfriend, Chris Newsom, in January 2007.
"Channon Christian was found hog tied, raped, stuffed inside of five trash bags with a trash bag tied around her mouth and nose, eyes open, stuffed inside of the trash can," said Knox County Assistant District Attorney Takisha Fitzgerald in her opening statement.
But the defense gave a different story, painting Vanessa Coleman as a victim who tried to escape, and who had no role at all.
"There will be no evidence that she witnessed it. There will be no evidence that she participated in it. There will be no evidence that she sanctioned it, aided it, abetted it or provided any kind of substantial assistance," said defense attorney Theodore Lavit.
For the Christian and Newsom families, the defense's argument was tough to stomach.
"It's a joke," Channon's father, Gary Christian, said. "She was no victim. It's all I can do to keep from getting up and leaving. (Coleman) had ability to get up and walk away."
Mary Newsom, mother of Channon's murdered boyfriend Chris Newsom, said it's difficult to hear the details all over again.
"It's sad that the witnesses have to get up there and tell the truth, under oath and tell the truth, and the defense team can get up there and say whatever they want to say, and make up stuff," Newsom said. "That just doesn't seem fair. That just doesn't seem right."
...more at link http://www.wate.com/story/20089654/chri ... eman-trial