KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Lawyers for a woman earlier convicted in a Knoxville torture slaying case want the judge to bar photos of the victim.
Vanessa Coleman is scheduled to be retried next month in the January 2007 killing of Channon Christian. Coleman does not face charges in the killing of Christian's boyfriend, Christopher Newsom.
Coleman and three men were earlier convicted in separate trials, but the judge that presided has resigned and been disbarred because of pill abuse while he was on the bench.
According to The Knoxville News Sentinel, defense attorney Ted Lavit this week filed motions asking that no photos of Christian be allowed, claiming the jury would decide the case on emotion, not reason. If the court denies that motion, Lavit asks that only black-and-white photos be displayed.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
