Updated: 11/18/2009 11:25:05 PM
A jury has been seated for George Thomas' trial in the deaths of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom.
Five white women, five white men, one black man, and one black woman made up the jury. However, that one black man on the jury will not actually hear this case, because he has been excused.
The man told Judge Richard Baumgartner that the graphic pictures that will be shown to jurors in this trial would disturb him, because his younger sister was murdered.
The man had not listed this information on his juror questionnaire or mentioned it in individual questioning.
Judge Baumgartner tried to convince juror number 6 to remain on the panel reminding him he was the only "African-American man" on the jury. The man agreed, however Thomas' defense attorney Thomas Dillard objected.
After discussing the issue with his client, Dillard asked for juror 6 to be dismissed.
The black male juror will be replaced by a white female alternate.
The Hamilton County jury of 12 will decide Thomas' innocence or guilt in the abduction, rape, and murder of the young Knox County couple.
Alternates have also been selected. Three white women and three white men are the alternates. It is not yet clear which alternate will replace the man who was excused.
Testimony at previous trials has indicated Thomas is a friend of Letalvis Cobbins who came down from Kentucky with Cobbins to visit Cobbins' brother Lemaricus Davidson.
Cobbins was convicted of Christian's murder and facilitating Newsom's murder; he's been sentenced to life without parole. Davidson was convicted of both murders and has been sentenced to die.
Previous: Final day of jury selection for George Thomas trial underway
Crimes close to home
A young woman stepped into the courtroom with her emotions already showing on Wednesday morning.
The potential juror told Judge Richard Baumgartner she knew some details about the case and is around the same age of the victims.
Channon Christian was 21 years old and Chris Newsom was 23 at the time of their murders.
The former Virginia Tech student covered her face, turned red and broke into tears after the judge described the crimes and the pictures she would have to see if she was selected for the panel.
Judge Baumgartner told the young woman he would not put her through this case and he excused her. As she left the room the judge said "don't worry about this anymore."
Immediately after she left the room, another prospective juror came into the courtroom with sympathy for the defendant.
The unemployed man with long hair and glasses and a bad opinion of prosecutors continually looked at George Thomas sitting at the end of the table.
When asked if he could sentence Thomas to death, the man continued to make eye contact with the defendant as he said, "no, not after looking at him." He was excused.
Previous coverage
By Wednesday afternoon, Judge Baumgartner believes he will have a panel of Chattanooga jurors for a high profile double murder trial.
26 year old George Thomas is accused of kidnapping and killing Channon Christian and Chris Newsom in January 2007.
He is the third defendant to go to trial for the murders. Thomas is also facing the death penalty if he is convicted for premeditated murder.
Over the course of 2 days, the judge has already talked to more than 120 potential jurors.
A handful of prospective jurors have admitted to researching the case after they filled out jury questionnaires on August 31st.
However, the biggest sticking point in this jury selection process is not the publicity about the case, but instead passionate opinions about the death penalty.
Those potential jurors who refuse to impose the death penalty or others who believe that the death penalty should be the only punishment for first degree murder have been excused.
Another group of potential jurors will be individually questioned on Wednesday morning, before attorneys move into general jury questioning.
At that time potential jurors will be questioned in a group setting as they hear even more details about the crimes.
Judge Baumgartner decided on Tuesday afternoon that 12 jurors will be selected as well as 6 alternates. Only 3 of the alternates will make the trip to Knoxville with the panel.
Now the prosecutors and defense will have 21 preemptory challenges to dismiss potential jurors from the final panel.
