GUILTY TX - Belinda Temple, 30, pregnant, Katy, 11 Jan 1999 *Guilty again in 2023*

[My3Sons]

From the Houston Chronicle:

Temple murder trial enters 4th week of testimony

This article contains the following paragraph:

“An expert in firearms ammunition identification said that a spent shell casing found in a shotgun used by Sanders, however, could technically match what was used to kill Belinda.”

Say what?!? I’m going to need more explanation to that bombshell.

 

[Pi2016]

From the Houston Chronicle:

Temple murder trial enters 4th week of testimony

This article contains the following paragraph:

“An expert in firearms ammunition identification said that a spent shell casing found in a shotgun used by Sanders, however, could technically match what was used to kill Belinda.”

Say what?!? I’m going to need more explanation to that bombshell.

I saw that too and had the same reaction. What does "could technically match" mean???

 

[My3Sons]

I saw that too and had the same reaction. What does "could technically match" mean???

I emailed the author...we will see if she responds. There is a tweet from someone else asking her to clarify, too. Girlfriend needs to clarify! If an expert testified that the ammunition could be consistent with what was found in RJS's gun that's game over IMO. I think Temple did it...I believe I know he did it, but that testimony coupled with the limited amount of evidence available is enough to cast reasonable doubt.

 

[My3Sons]

We are now in the defense case per KPRC:
What happened in David Temple's trial on Tuesday

 

[Ann-Tx]

From the Houston Chroicle - Houston, TX
July 30, 2019

Jurors in murder trial see courtroom re-enactment of killing

 

[Pi2016]

I emailed the author...we will see if she responds. There is a tweet from someone else asking her to clarify, too. Girlfriend needs to clarify! If an expert testified that the ammunition could be consistent with what was found in RJS's gun that's game over IMO. I think Temple did it...I believe I know he did it, but that testimony coupled with the limited amount of evidence available is enough to cast reasonable doubt.

This is from the book Shattered:

Days later, the two .12-gauge shotguns collected from Sanders’s father came back clean for glass, blood and brain matter. Still, the shotgun shells were interesting. The ones found in the Sanders home were double-ought reloads, like the one used to murder Belinda. But then a ballistics expert examined the shells and ruled them out, determining that nothing about them, from the lead buckshot to the wadding, matched.

Casey, Kathryn. Shattered: The True Story of a Mother's Love, a Husband's Betrayal, and a Cold-Blooded Texas Murder (p. 248). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

I think the author of the article did a sloppy job reporting "could technically match"... well there wasn't a speck of evidence that the guns Sanders had access to killed Belinda. None of her DNA and with that close contact shot her blood and brain matter would have been in that gun. Basically those guns were cleared.

Hopefully that was the take away for the jury because like you I believe Temple is guilty!

I'm glad Brenda testified yesterday. Two important things from the Houston Chron article, is Belinda was still wearing her shoes and DRIVING glasses-- I had seen that in Casey's book and I'm glad this jury heard it. If Belinda had been upstairs "resting" as Temple claimed when he left with his sick son and no car seat then why would her DRIVING glasses still be on?

Also Brenda said this:
On Dec. 27, Lucas said she heard Belinda ask David, “You’re not happy having this baby girl?”

Lucas recalled in her testimony that David responded, “If you say that again…” then paused when Lucas looked up.

“To me, it was hateful,” Lucas said.

So..... Brenda established Temple didn't want his unborn daughter either.

 

[My3Sons]

Today’s defense testimony per the Houston Chronicle: Neighbors contradict earlier testimony in David Temple's murder trial

The Ruggieros allegiance to David is puzzling. With everything that came out after the murder, how can they not see that the did not know him at all?

 

[Pi2016]

Today’s defense testimony per the Houston Chronicle: Neighbors contradict earlier testimony in David Temple's murder trial

The Ruggieros allegiance to David is puzzling. With everything that came out after the murder, how can they not see that the did not know him at all?

The jury is going to wonder why Mr. Ruggiero couldn't get past the dog and cops almost had to shoot the dog but Mrs. said she's let her son play with the dog. Yeah okay. And RJS was a "heathen"?

TBH it sounds like pathetic testimony to me. Also as we've seen this entire trial the reporting is horrible. If the jury is paying attention they should be able to see the monster here is David Temple. I think Belinda's twin sister knew Belinda better than neighbor Peggy Ruggiero.

 

[texas_sleuth1990]

From the Houston Chronicle:

Temple murder trial enters 4th week of testimony

This article contains the following paragraph:

“An expert in firearms ammunition identification said that a spent shell casing found in a shotgun used by Sanders, however, could technically match what was used to kill Belinda.”

Say what?!? I’m going to need more explanation to that bombshell.

so, i live in texas and its a pretty well known fact that MOST texans own guns. many people even have collections of them, not just one or two. when they say it "could technically match", thats exactly it. it might be the same caliber as the gun used for the murder, but that doesnt mean that 4/5 neighbors in the area dont own the same caliber weapon. The way to actually determine if the shells came from a certain gun is to have both pieces. a gun basically engraves a bullet with lines as it fires. giving the shell a sort of fingerprint. if you have the "fingerprint" thats great. but if you dont have the hand (weapon) to match it to, you still have nothing. and until you have that, the rest is almost meaningless in court. theres a saying when it comes to murder trials: "no weapon, no body, no crime" if either the body or the weapon are missing, its almost impossible to get a conviction that will hold up. you dont want to blow the opportunity either based on theories, because once someone is aquitted they are free. you cant be charged for the same crime twice.

 

[My3Sons]

Per KPRC, the defense rested. Temple did not testify. There is almost zero information in the article about who was called and what they said. Article also says closings Monday, so I guess that means no rebuttal from the prosecution.

Defense rests in David Temple trial

 

[grillzgirl]

The lack of detailed information in this case drives me bananas.

 

[My3Sons]

So I feel like I have to ask...where is the new evidence? Where is all the information that was withheld by the prosecutor last time that could have change the outcome of the trial? Seems like the defense case this time was even more pathetic than last time. At least his attorney was smart enough not to put the whole Temple plan on the stand this go round #notcredible

 

[geevee]

The lack of detailed information in this case drives me bananas.

I couldn't agree with you more.

I hope the snafu after the openings doesn't impact the judge's earlier ruling of allowing the closings and verdict to be live streamed.

 

[Pi2016]

Per KPRC, the defense rested. Temple did not testify. There is almost zero information in the article about who was called and what they said. Article also says closings Monday, so I guess that means no rebuttal from the prosecution.

Defense rests in David Temple trial

No surprise that Temple didn't testify. He couldn't hold up under cross then and he wouldn't be able to now.

At least we will get to see the closings. Really hoping for justice for Brenda and Erin, and finally closure for Belinda's family.

 

[Pi2016]

so, i live in texas and its a pretty well known fact that MOST texans own guns. many people even have collections of them, not just one or two. when they say it "could technically match", thats exactly it. it might be the same caliber as the gun used for the murder, but that doesnt mean that 4/5 neighbors in the area dont own the same caliber weapon. The way to actually determine if the shells came from a certain gun is to have both pieces. a gun basically engraves a bullet with lines as it fires. giving the shell a sort of fingerprint. if you have the "fingerprint" thats great. but if you dont have the hand (weapon) to match it to, you still have nothing. and until you have that, the rest is almost meaningless in court. theres a saying when it comes to murder trials: "no weapon, no body, no crime" if either the body or the weapon are missing, its almost impossible to get a conviction that will hold up. you dont want to blow the opportunity either based on theories, because once someone is aquitted they are free. you cant be charged for the same crime twice.

Thanks for this. I'm not from Texas so some of these shot gun explanations are lost on me. But the main thing is the JURY is from Texas, and they likely know what you are pointing out.

 

[Pi2016]

David Temple’s defense rested on Thursday, setting the stage for closing arguments and jury deliberation next week in the 20-year-old case of the ex-football coach accused of killing his pregnant wife in Katy.

<modsnip - copywright law>

Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday morning in state District Judge Kelli Johnson’s court. If convicted, David Temple faces up to life in prison.

[email protected]

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/h ... rc=hp_totn

 

[Ann-Tx]

From KHOU (CBS) - Houston, TX
Updated: 7:43 PM CDT - August 4, 2019

Closing arguments to begin Monday in second trial for David Temple

 

[geevee]

I can't find a live stream of the closings anywhere.

 

[Ann-Tx]

I can't find a live stream of the closings anywhere.

I think the Live Stream won't start until 9 or shortly thereafter. Court is not in session until 9 a.m. CDT.

 

[Ann-Tx]

Here is a Link for the David Temple Retrial closing arguments from KHOU (CBS) - Houston, TX.

The stream will be "Live" when Judge Kelli Johnson gives the okay. Only the Closing Arguments will be "live".

Watch Live: Closing arguments in second trial for David Temple