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Black mistrial
A new trial has been scheduled for January, in the case of James Black, 54, Main Street, White Pine , who is charged with two counts of Felony First Degree Murder in the deaths of Courtney Thompson, 20, and Terrance Stewart, 21, of Dandridge in March, 2012. Stewart was the son of retired Newport Police Officer Terry Stewart. Asst. Prosecutor Cecil Mill said a mistrial was declared earlier this month during the first Black trial in Greene County Circuit Court after co-defendant, Christopher Jones, testifying for the state, said he knew Black from being housed with him in prison. The jury was not to be told about Black's previous criminal record because that information could taint the panel's judgment with regard to the current charges, and so Circuit Judge John Dugger declared the mistrial. Jones, 34, of Newport had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Second Degree Murder and was given a 35 year prison term in the case. Also charged in the double murder are Teresa Jane Miller, 49, Clifton Heights, Newport and Tabitha N. Whitlock, 36, Mosheim. The victims were shot and killed as they traveled on Highway 321 in Greene County. Jones gave investigators a statement in which he said the defendants were riding on the rear seat of Thompson's car as she drove on Highway 321 near the Cocke/Greene County line. Jones said the plan was to rob Stewart and Thompson, but instead Black shot the two. He said Black first shot Stewart in the back of the head as Thompson drove northbound. The statement went on to say that Ms. Thompson pulled her car off the roadway after the shot was fired and turned around to face Black. At that point he shot her in the face. The bodies of the victims were found the following day under a bridge on the highway, over the Nolichucky River. Investigators at the time said pills and approximately $2,500 in cash were found in the clothes of Ms. Thompson.
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