HONOLULU (KHON2) — A significant moment occurred in the murder trial of Eric Thompson as he testified in his own defense today.
Eric Thompson walked the jury through his relationship with his wife, Joyce, whom he met in high school.
His attorney, Nelson Goo, questioned him about how they built a home together, businesses and eventually, a family.
“It was good,” said Thompson when asked about their relationship after high school. “We went through a nice honeymoon phase. I mean we really enjoyed each other’s company we enjoyed learning things from each other. We each had slightly different upbringings but it was really fun to get to know each other.”
Thompson is accused of killing Tokuhara in January of 2022 after discovering of an affair between Tokuhara and Joyce. But on the stand, Thompson told the story of his life as a hard-working family man.
“Your relationship was good on the wedding day?” Goo asked.
“I couldn’t have asked for more,” Thompson said.
Prosecutors have painted Thompson as a man who was consumed by anger over the affair and said Thompson carefully planned the murder.
The defense has been arguing throughout the trial that there is no direct evidence linking Thompson to the crime scene. Today, he was questioned about the guns that owns, which he said was a hobby.
“Did you ever have a silencer or suppressor?” Goo asked.
“No,” Thompson said.
He was also asked about his reasons for going to the Waimanalo dump to dispose of paving bricks, which is what he said he was doing at the time of the murder.
“Why did you start taking rubbish and bricks there?” Goo asked.
“Sometimes it would be more convenient, like if you run out of time to get to Kapaa,” Thompson said.
Thompson, on the stand, admitted to his role in causing distance with Joyce after their baby was born.
“In retrospect, I should have been paying more attention to her. She was going through a hard time. I never really noticed anything. I was too busy with the baby,” Thompson said.
Thompson is expected to continue his testimony tomorrow.