Jury Selection Underway in Sullivan County Toddler Murder Trial
Christopher David Smith, age 2, was murdered in March 2005. The man accused of killing him is about to stand trial on a first degree murder charge.
Attorneys in Blountville, Tennessee will spend today interviewing potential jurors for a first degree murder case.
Shawn Anthony Mullins, 27, will soon be tried on a first degree murder charge in connection to the March, 2005 death of Christopher David Smith, age 2, the son of his live-in girlfriend at the time.
According to court records, the state of Tennessee plans to purse the death penalty in the case.
Investigators said Mullins physically abused the boy before his death on March 30, 2005 when the child’s mother found him inside a home on Robin Lane.
Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood is presiding over the trial.
According to a clerk at the Sullivan County Courthouse, attorneys expect to spend all day today choosing potential jury members.
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Reader Reactions
I have two beautiful 2 and 2 1/2 year old grand children and it breaks my heart in pieces to think that such an innocent child as this was abused and lost his life due to a scum bag. I know this child is now a little angel in heaven and the person who did this will burn in eternal he—for this crime. I, for one, would love to be able to light that match!
I am ashamed that someone with the same last (pre- marriage) name as mine had anything to do with this. I just hope he was adopted or on another family tree!
I went to school with a girl that lost a beautiful baby boy in the same way, and to make it worse the man that killed him was his own “father”. All he got was 8yrs in jail for that senseless crime. I was so upset that they didnt seek a harsher punishment. I hope the justice system pulls thru for this lil fella.. he was an innocent child that was in the hands of an evil sick man. He should be made an example of and he should be given life in prison w/o the chance of parole..
Officials should just save the money that would be spent on a trial and take this scum bag out to the nearest empty field, give him a portion of what he gave that poor baby, and then let him have a bullet between the eyes. Little hole going in, big hole coming out. I am definitely all for the death penalty but rather than lethal injection and going to sleep, how about the same method that landed the inmate on death row in the first place. The same method or as close to as possible. I am sure there are some twisted folks out there that would love to play executioner. Also, sooner rather than later. Keep the “row” cleaned out.
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