KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The man convicted for his role in the murders and kidnappings of a young Knoxville couple is asking for a new trial.
A judge handed down two life sentences for Eric Boyd in September for participating in the 2007 kidnaps, rapes, robberies and murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom.
In court on Friday, the defense argued that Boyd didn't get a fair trial because of excessive media coverage and said there was no physical evidence tying him to the crimes.
Prosecutors countered that physical evidence didn't matter because Boyd was part of the group that carjacked the couple on the night of Jan. 6, 2007 and bore criminal responsibility.
The judge said he will consider the arguments and will issue a written ruling later in the next few weeks.
The defense asked that Boyd be returned to federal custody, where he had been serving his time after being convicted on federal carjacking charges related to the murders. The judge refused that request, saying he will be held in Knox County until he makes his decision.
The victims were raped at or near a rental home on Chipman Street. Newsom was shot to death and his body was burned on railroad tracks near the rental home.
Christian suffocated after being bound and stuffed into a trash can in the rental home.
Evidence showed that Boyd brought Newsom back to the rental home after the carjacking.
A co-defendant, George Thomas, testified at trial in August that he and Boyd forced Newsom to go to a remote location near the house where Boyd shot and killed him.
Thomas testified that Davidson remained in a house with Christian as Boyd set Newsom's body on fire, and killed him.
Last week, Lemaricus Davidson, 38, was before a judge arguing new information had surfaced since his 2009 trial that factored into his case. That request for a new trial was denied.