The jury has sentenced David Temple to life in prison after about two hours of...
www.houstonchronicle.com
4/21/23
After just two hours of deliberation, a Harris County jury Friday sentenced former Alief ISD football coach David Temple to life in prison for murdering his pregnant wife while carrying on a romantic affair, capping a 24-year legal saga that included two convictions and a deadlocked jury.
Relatives of the beloved school teacher, Belinda Temple, wiped away tears as her twin sister stepped up to the witness stand once more to confront her former brother-in-law.
"I will never understand why you killed Belinda," Brenda Lucas said in a victim impact statement. "David, you could have gotten divorced."
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Jurors considered a range of punishments for Temple, including probation, but a life sentence was the most serious option available. Temple will be eligible for parole in 17 years, when he is 71.
The brief deliberations were a stark contrast to the 19 hours of debate over Temple's fate in 2019 that led to Judge Kelli Johnson to declare a mistrial and start the process over.
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Prosecutor Lisa Tanner expressed sympathy for the younger Temple.
“Who put us in the situation where Evan is the one who suffered? He did,” Tanner said, referring to the defendant.
The son testified he did not have first-hand memories of his mother and only knew what others told him. He said his maternal family never made an effort to be in his life, a statement the Lucas family disputed.
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The prosecutors met with the jurors after the trial, and their laughter in the jury room could often be heard from the courtroom.
Tanner welcomed the end of the trial and noted that they handled the case with care to avoid possible misconduct, which is what led to the second trial
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Schneider, despite his disappointment in the jury’s decision, said he was ready to try again. Temple requested Schneider to continue being his attorney as his case proceeds with the appellate process.
“Hopefully we’ll pick a fourth jury in about two years,” he said, rattling off possible appeal strategies.
The sentencing became a reunion of sorts for people tied to Temple's past trials.
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Siegler greeted retired prosecutor, Ted Wilson, who was among the prosecutors initially tasked with the Temple case. Both sat among the observers during the closing arguments.
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