Suspect in carjacking murders requests speedy trial, citing lack of DNA evidence

[cknott]

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=55386

Can't these reporters even take the time to use a spell checker???

Three of the four suspects in the murders and rapes of a young Knox County couple were back in court Friday morning.

Attorneys Thomas Dillard and Stephen Johnson represent George Thomas, one of the defendants charged with the carjacking, rape and murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom.

Thomas' attorneys filed a motion for a speedy trial on Thursday. Thomas' trial is currently set for August 11, 2008, and his attorneys argue that if the trial happens on that date, he will be in jail more than a year-and-a-half before his case is tried

According to the motion filed by Thomas' attorneys, no forensic link has been established linking Thomas to the murder scene or the victims. Thus, the attorneys argue they need less time to prepare for trial than counsel for Thomas' co-defendants.

"Frankly, Mr. Thomas is in a different position than his co-defendants," the motion reads. "Despite a substantive battery of forensic serological and DNA tests having been conducted on evidence obtained by law enforcement in this case, the result of all the types of analyses performed is that there is no forensic link between Mr. Thomas and the scene of the alleged offenses or the victims themselves."

On Friday, Judge Richard Baumgartner set a date to hear the motion on April 3rd.

Lemaricus Davidson and Letalvis Cobbins were also in court Friday to hear the prosectution withdraw its motion requesting further DNA and hair samples. However, the Attorney General's office plans to ask for search warrants to obtain the evidence.

Prosecutors say previous hair samples were only taken from the defendants heads, and they want hair samples from the defendants' genital areas in order to make their case linking the men to the crimes.

Thomas, Davidson and Cobbins will all be back in court on April 3rd for a motions hearing.

Representation for Cobbins is still not resolved. The court asked Bruce Poston to represent Cobbins as co-council, but he may have a conflict of interest. Apparently one of Poston's other clients in the Knox County jail has talked to Cobbins regarding the case. Poston told the court he has not talked to that client or Cobbins regarding their conversations.

Judge Baumgartner plans to make a decision on Poston's potential conflict of interest next week.

The federal case against a fifth suspect in this case is expected to start April 7th. Eric Boyd is charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly helping Davidson to elude police.