A Hawaii man charged with homicide within the taking pictures dying of the acupuncturist who was having an affair along with his spouse wasn’t the one individual with a motive to kill him, a protection lawyer instructed jurors in the beginning of the trial.
Eric Thompson was arrested on Valentine’s Day final 12 months and has been below home arrest in an upscale Honolulu neighborhood. Police mentioned he shot Jon Tokuhara, an acupuncturist treating Thompson’s spouse, after discovering the affair via Instagram messages and movies.
/ AP
Tokuhara “had a observe document of dishonest,” together with with girls who had households, Thompson’s protection lawyer mentioned. Jilted girls ghosted by Tokuhara would have had the identical motive, lawyer David Hayakawa mentioned, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
Hayakawa mentioned police ignored different leads for potential suspects, noting that Tokuhara was a gambler and almost $4,000 in money was discovered subsequent to his physique in his workplace.
Thompson and his spouse have been highschool sweethearts.
Tokuhara ruined the couple’s picture of an ideal life and that is why Thompson killed him, KHON-TV reported a prosecutor saying.
“He shot him not as soon as, not twice, not thrice, however 4 occasions to the face,” mentioned Deputy Prosecuting Legal professional Benjamin Rose.
Surveillance footage reveals Thompson parked close to Tokuhara’s workplace and strolling in sporting a hat and sun shades, police mentioned. The hat fell on the road as Thompson was leaving, police mentioned, and DNA testing confirmed it was probably worn by Thompson.
KGMB
“Eric Thompson killed the person who slept along with his spouse,” Hawaii Information Now reported Rose saying. “This can be a story as previous as time.”
The trial continued Thursday and the choose expects it to wrap up by the tip of the month, KITV reported.
On Wednesday, Tokuhara’s 81-year-old mom cried on the witness stand as she talked concerning the day she found her son’s physique in his workplace final 12 months, Hawaii Information Now reported.
“I went to the workplace and I noticed him on the ground and I noticed paperwork all around the room,” mentioned Lilly Tokuhara.
Those that knew Tokuhara mentioned he cherished fishing, browsing, teaching and serving to veterans, Hawaii Information Now reported.
“You already know, he is an acupuncturist. He was a healer, , and he is helped so many individuals,” mentioned a cherished one who attended a vigil for Tokuhara.
“He had associates in so many alternative circles and he was simply somebody that was simply cherished,” one other buddy mentioned. “He gave again to his group and gave scholarships.”
