Man sentenced to 15 years for outing witness who was then murdered
Newport News Judge Gary Mills sentenced Elijah Newell on Friday, May 9, 2025, to 15 years for intimidating a witness who had provided information against him in an attempted robbery and a malicious wounding case and failing to appear in court.
In issuing his ruling, Judge Mills said: “If we allow witness intimidation of any type, we are undermining our justice system. . . . Our society can’t function like this. Cooperating witnesses are the unsung heroes of our criminal justice system.”
Newell was convicted last year of felony obstruction of justice after he posted a witnesses’ name on social media, labelling the witness a snitch and implying snitches should be killed. He was also convicted of felony failure to appear.
Newell had been convicted of malicious wounding and attempted robbery after Savion Williams provided information to investigators. Newell was awaiting sentencing on those charges when he posted a series of Instagram stories. The stories included screen shots of his police report with Williams’ statements to police in the screen shots. Williams was also charged with attempted robbery and unlawful wounding from the same altercation.
Newell tagged Williams’ account in his story posts showing a photo of Newell standing in a shooting stance pointing his hand at the camera as if holding a gun, a countdown clock to the date of the initial sentencing hearing, an emoji of a rat, and the word “snitch” and “K”. A gang detective testified “snitch” and “K” is slang for snitch killer. There were other posts showing Newell flanked by several others holding firearms. Again Williams’ account was tagged, the word “SNITCHK” was included, and rat emojis. At least one other account reposted one of Newell’s threatening posts.
Savion Williams’ mother testified he showed her Newell’s posts and he appeared nervous. Investigators also found that Newell’s phone sent a message to a friend within 30 minutes after Williams’ murder a requesting the friend to post on Newell’s Instagram account six celebratory emojis. When asked why, Newell responded with an emoji of a rat and gun. This message was sent about an hour before Williams’ body was identified.
Newell is a documented gang member and a police gang expert testified at how difficult it is to get witnesses to testify in gang related cases.
No one has been charged in Savion Williams’ death, committed on Sept. 10, 2023. Anyone with information should contact 1-888-562-5887 or submit a tip at p3tips.com