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

[JerseyGirl]

Texas man gets 2nd life sentence for pregnant wife’s killing

A former Houston-area high school football coach has been sentenced for a second time to life in prison in his pregnant wife’s killing more than 24 years ago.

www.seattletimes.com

 

[ilovewings]

24 years later, justice for Belinda and Erin!

David Temple, former Katy-area coach convicted of killing pregnant wife in 1999, sentenced to life

On Friday, after deliberating for a third time, jurors sentenced the former Katy-area coach to life in prison. The victim's siblings had some final words for the convicted murderer.

abc13.com

4/21/23

On Friday, jurors spent about two hours deliberating before sentencing David Temple to life in prison. He remained stoic as the judge read their decision.

"He's more resigned to it than anybody else," defense attorney Stanley Schneider said. "He's calmer than all the people care about him."

Finally

 

[Seattle1]

Jury sentences David Temple to life in 1999 killing of his pregnant wife

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."

[..]

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.

[..]

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.

[..]

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

[..]

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.

[..]

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.

 

[Seattle1]

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.

^^rsbm

This made me weep, and I'm glad Belinda's parents are no longer around to hear those words.

Can't forget that after the murders, it was still 5 years of freedom before David was indicted. And it was another 3 years after that before he was convicted. Nope. David made certain that Belinda's son would not have a relationship with his maternal family.

I'll always remember their anguish over their grandson during the earlier trials. MOO

 

[DeDee]

^^rsbm

This made me weep, and I'm glad Belinda's parents are no longer around to hear those words.

Can't forget that after the murders, it was still 5 years of freedom before David was indicted. And it was another 3 years after that before he was convicted. Nope. David made certain that Belinda's son would not have a relationship with his maternal family.

I'll always remember their anguish over their grandson during the earlier trials. MOO

We take their sad stories with us. These are powerful words: "You could have gotten divorced".

"I will never understand why you killed Belinda," Brenda Lucas said in a victim impact statement. "David, you could have gotten divorced."

 

[Seattle1]

KRPC 2/ CLICK2 HOUSTON: Killer Coach | The Evidence Room, Episode 27​

10/25/23 -- We’re taking you inside the case of David Temple, the former Alief Hastings high school football coach sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing his pregnant wife, Belinda. From crime scene photos to an emotional interview with the lead detective on the case, we’ll explore a husband’s betrayal that ultimately ended the lives of his wife and unborn daughter. Catch up on the true crime docuseries

 

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1940744123033477522

 

[Foxone1]

I watched this trial the first one, What I questioned was why his wife/affair person filed for divorce or left him during final trial. He is guilty of the crime, he can't even squeeze out real tears when I see him. I feel bad for his son who believes David's lies/defense spin

 

[Seattle1]

I watched this trial the first one, What I questioned was why his wife/affair person filed for divorce or left him during final trial. He is guilty of the crime, he can't even squeeze out real tears when I see him. I feel bad for his son who believes David's lies/defense spin

David was married to and lived with Heather for many more years than he was ever married to Belinda. Maybe she finally saw enough of him, or accepted he's a killer, and was going away for good this time!

David & Heather married in 2001, two years after Belinda was murdered, and it was five years before he was ever indicted, and another 3 years before he was convicted!

He was out on bond the entire time. Post conviction, he was only imprisoned for 9 years when an appeals court overturned the conviction, and he was back with Heather again by December 2016, and remained out on bond until he was convicted during his retrial in July 2019.

Fortunately, the Court raised his bond to $1MIL awaiting sentencing, which he could not post, so he was incarcerated until April 2023 when finally sentenced.

Multi-Convicted Katy Murderer David Temple's Appeal Denied; Life in Prison Sentence Reaffirmed

For 26 years David Temple has been fighting the courts over his multiple murder convictions. His wife Belinda Temple was shot and killed inside their Katy. She was 8 month pregnant with their daughter, Erin. The pandemic, appeals, and a mistrial have all caused delays. The murders are considered...

www.katymagazineonline.com