On Thursday, Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood ruled that the defendants in the Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom murder case would get new trials.
His decision came after evidence that former judge Richard Baumgartner, who presided over the trials, was heavily using prescription medication during the trials.
Knoxville attorney T. Scott Jones talked to 10News anchor Robin Wilhoit about the legal ramifications of this case, including why the defendants cannot receive harsher sentences in a new trial, how difficult it will be to find impartial jurors, and whether a 5th defendant, Eric Boyd, can now face new state charges. He was convicted federally of carjacking, but was never charged with the murders.
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