Medical examiner testifies in case against Eric Boyd for Christian-Newsom murders

Posted: Aug 9, 2019 / 08:22 AM EDT

Updated: Aug 9, 2019 / 05:57 PM EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Testimony resumed with a forensic expert on the stand in the trial Eric Boyd in the 2007 murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom.

On Friday afternoon, Knox County Medical Examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan took the stand. Her testimony is expected to take some time.

Gallery: Photos from Friday’s testimony in the Eric Boyd trial

She described how Newsom had been gagged before his body was burned. He bad been raped and shot three times.

Knox County Medical Examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan shows the trajectory of the bullets shot at Christopher Newsom during the trial of Eric Boyd in Knox County Criminal Court on Friday, August 9, 2019. (Brianna Paciorka / News Sentinel pool)

Randall Nelson, a microanalysis expert, testified about bleach on a white shirt.

Judge Bob McGee called a short recess to deal with a matter and then testimony resumed Linda Littlejohn, another forensics expert on microanalysis.

Jennifer Millsaps, a TBI forensic scientist based at the agency’s crime lab in Knoxville and an expert in DNA analysis, testified about samples she analyzed from the victims as well as many of the people who were questioned during the investigation of the case.

Boyd, the fifth person tried for the brutal deaths, has been implicated in the death of Newsom by the state’s star witness, George Thomas, previously convicted and serving a prison sentence of two life terms plus 25 years.

GALLERY: Photos from Thursday in the Eric Boyd trial

Thomas is hoping his testimony reduced his prison sentence to 50 years, which could potentially free him when he is in his mid-60s. Boyd is serving an 18-year sentence his role in hiding the alleged ringleader of the crimes Larmacus Davidson. Davidson is on Tennessee’s Death Row.

Eric Boyd exits the court room following Knox County Medical Examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan’s questioning from the state during his trial for the 2007 murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom in Knox County Criminal Court on Friday, August 9, 2019. (Brianna Paciorka / News Sentinel pool

On Thursday, Boyd’s attorney Clinton Frazier tried to raise doubt that Thomas has been telling the truth this week, asking Thomas about his testimony Wednesday that he didn’t hear Channon Christian being raped while in a house that would fit in the courtroom.

Both mothers of the victims were among the witnesses called to the stand in Knox County Criminal Court on Thursday.