A Hawaii man charged with murder in the shooting death of an acupuncturist who was having an affair with his wife was not the only person with a motive to kill him, his defense attorney told jurors at the start of his trial. Ta.
Eric Thompson was arrested on Valentine’s Day last year and is currently under house arrest in an upscale Honolulu neighborhood. Police say Thompson shot and killed John Tokuhara, an acupuncturist who was treating Thompson’s wife, after discovering the affair through Instagram messages and videos.
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Thompson’s lawyer said Tokuhara “had a history of affairs,” including with women with whom he had family. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that the Jilt women cornered by Tokuhara likely had the same motive, attorney David Hayakawa said.
Hayakawa said police ignored other leads as a suspect, noting that Tokuhara was a gambler and that nearly $4,000 in cash was found next to his body in his office.
Thompson and his wife were high school sweethearts.
Tokuhara ruined the couple’s image of a perfect life, which is why Thompson killed Tokuhara, KHON-TV reported prosecutors as saying.
“He shot him in the face not once, not twice, not three times, but four times,” Deputy Prosecutor Benjamin Rose said.
Police said surveillance footage showed Thompson parking near Tokuhara’s office and entering wearing a hat and sunglasses. Police said the hat had fallen on the street while Thompson was on his way home, and a DNA test showed that it was likely Thompson who was wearing it.
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“Eric Thompson murdered a man who was sleeping with his wife,” Hawaii News Now reported Rose as saying. “This is a long time ago.”
The trial will continue on Thursday, and the judge expects it to be concluded by the end of this month, KITV reported.
On Wednesday, Tokuhara’s 81-year-old mother cried on the stand as she described the day she discovered her son’s body in her office last year, Hawaii News Now reported.
“When I went to his office, he was lying on the floor and papers were scattered all over the room,” Lily Tokuhara said.
Those who knew Tokuhara said he loved fishing, surfing, coaching and supporting veterans, Hawaii News Now reported.
“As you know, he’s an acupuncturist. He was a healer. And he helped so many people,” said a loved one who attended Tokuhara’s wake.
Another friend said: “He had friends in different circles and was just a well-loved person.” “He gave back to the community and gave out scholarships.”
