Letalvis Cobbins Sentenced to Life for Murder of Knoxville Couple
Letalvis Cobbins, 26, of Lebanon, Ky., was convicted Tuesday of murder in the brutal carjacking, rape and murder of a young Tennessee couple who were snatched while they were on a date in 2007.
Cobbins is the first of four defendants charged with participating in the brutal murder of Channon Christian, 21, and her boyfriend, Christopher Newsom, 23. Cobbins admitted taking part, but he denied on the stand last week that he was a killer.
The jury found him guilty of multiple counts of first-degree and felony murder in the death of Christian but opted for lesser charges of facilitating murder in the slaying of Newsom. They also convicted him of rape, kidnapping and robbery, charges that can carry sentences of 15 to 25 years in prison.
Jurors spent several hours on Wednesday listening to victim impact statements from the Christian family as well as the pleas of the Cobbins family to save the convicted murderer’s life.
Jurors deliberated less than three hours before returning to the courtroom with a unanimous decision on the fate of Letalvis Cobbins. The jury foreman delivered the decision of the 12 member jury at just after 6:45 p.m.
“We the jury find such aggravated circumstances do not outweigh any mitigating circumstances, beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, we the jury unanimously agree that the defendant will be sentenced to imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole.”
Upon hearing the verdict, Cobbins took a deep breath and then sat down.
His defense attorneys saved their client’s life, but they didn’t openly rejoice. They admitted the case was difficult and even told the jury that Cobbins was someone they should hate.
“The hardest thing about this case, all the way through, has been the pain and the anguish on the faces of the people who show up for court everyday,” said Scott Green, Cobbins’ lead defense attorney. “I think everybody needs to remember them in their prayers. We’re relieved, obviously, about the outcome, but a lot of work is left to do.”
Outside the courtroom, the parents both victims were noticeably upset over the jury’s decision. Both couples agreed it was the jurors and not the prosecution that disappointed them.
“They took our daughter, they raped her, they murdered her and they tortured her. They didn’t just kill her,” said Gary Christian, Channon’s father. “If there’s ever a case in this state that deserved the death penalty… What were they thinking?”
“They let us down,” said Mary Newsom, Chris’ mother. “I feel like we let Chris down. We told Chris we’d get them all.”
Watch Interview with Victim’s Families Here:
[and I believe there is] I hope that while in prison Letalvis Cobbins is visited by the biggest, no bathing, hairy, make your skin crawl jus’ to look at him (you know the type) man that is in need of a “girlfriend”. I hope that Letalvia Cobbins will have done to him what he did to Channon Christian, day after day after day. No more No less – Eye for an Eye
To IGottaBackBone:
I agree with you to a point but scum like this should be quickly executed.
It is sad and horrible what has happened to the victims in this case. This man that was sentenced to life is my child’s father. I have not seen him in years and would like to speak to him or write to him to find out what transpired in that house. I have been watching footage of the case and reading transcripts also. How could he be a part of something like this? He was not like that when we were together. i will pray for the families and for his soul. What is really upsetting me is what do i tell my son, who is his junior, has happened to his father.
Heart Wretching story, that should tell us all to enjoy the moments we spend with our loved and make the most of them. To Kane , I would not put that on your child some things are best left untold. Just love and cherish your moments together. May the Higher Power in us all lead us to the knowledge we need to make it through our journeys in this life.