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Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff
Terry Thompson has been charged with murder in the choking death of John Hernandez, 24, outside a Houston-area Denny’s.
Terry Thompson has been charged with murder in the choking death of John Hernandez, 24, outside a Houston-area Denny’s.
Photo: Harris County Sheriffs Office
Chauna Thompson has been charged with murder in the choking death of John Hernandez, 24, outside a Houston-area Denny’s.
Chauna Thompson has been charged with murder in the choking death of John Hernandez, 24, outside a Houston-area Denny’s.
Photo: Harris County Sheriffs Office
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez answers questions from the media regarding an internal affairs investigation looking into the death of John Hernandez, Friday, June 9, 2017.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez answers questions from the media regarding an internal affairs investigation looking into the death of John Hernandez, Friday, June 9, 2017.
Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle
Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Chauna Thompson and her husband, Terry Thompson, were charged with murder in the death of John Hernandez, District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Thursday as she stood next to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Chauna Thompson and her husband, Terry Thompson, were charged with murder in the death of John Hernandez, District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Thursday as she stood next to Sheriff
Photo: Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle
A witness, who wished not to be identified, speaks to the media about what she witnessed outside of the Denny’s where John Hernandez was killed outside of the Harris County Grand Jury where they heard witnesses give testimony in the Hernandez death case, Thursday, June 8, 2017. (Karen Warren /Houston Chronicle)
A witness, who wished not to be identified, speaks to the media about what she witnessed outside of the Denny’s where John Hernandez was killed outside of the Harris County Grand Jury where they heard witnesses
Photo: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Associated Press
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Associated Press
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Associated Press
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
Photo: Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle, Yi-Chin Lee
Ignacio Hernandez, father of the deceased John Hernandez, gives a short speech regarding to learning the news of the grand jury’s decision to indict Terry and Chaunta Thompson outside of the Denny’s restaurant where his son was strangled by Terry Thompson, husband of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Chauna Thompson, and later died in the hospital Thursday, June 8, in Crosby.
Ignacio Hernandez, father of the deceased John Hernandez, gives a short speech regarding to learning the news of the grand jury’s decision to indict Terry and Chaunta Thompson outside of the Denny’s restaurant
Photo: Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle, Yi-Chin Lee
Maria Toval, center, widow of John Hernandez, wipes away tears while listening to community activists making statements supporting her husband and her family during a press conference outside of the Denny’s restaurant where Hernandez was strangled by Terry Thompson, husband of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Chauna Thompson, and later died in hospital Thursday, June 8, in Crosby. The family were still in grief but were happy to hear that both Terry and Chaunta Thompson were indicted by a Harris County grand jury Thursday afternoon.
Maria Toval, center, widow of John Hernandez, wipes away tears while listening to community activists making statements supporting her husband and her family during a press conference outside of the Denny’s
Photo: Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle, Yi-Chin Lee
Maria Toval, center, widow of John Hernandez, Matin Hernandez, uncle of John’s and Melissa Hernandez, cousin of John’s, hold hands and chant “Justice for John” after a press conference outside of the Denny’s restaurant where John was strangled by Terry Thompson, husband of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Chauna Thompson, and later died in hospital Thursday, June 8, in Crosby. The family were still in grief but were happy to hear that both Terry and Chaunta Thompson were indicted by a Harris County grand jury Thursday afternoon.
Maria Toval, center, widow of John Hernandez, Matin Hernandez, uncle of John’s and Melissa Hernandez, cousin of John’s, hold hands and chant “Justice for John” after a press conference outside of the Denny’s
Photo: Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle, Yi-Chin Lee
A former Harris County sheriff’s deputy and her husband, both charged with murder after being accused of choking a Crosby man outside a Denny’s restaurant, are expected to appear in court Tuesday.
Chauna Thompson, 45, and her husband, Terry Thompson, 41, turned themselves in Thursday night, just hours after being indicted and both made bail of $100,000. They could face up to life in prison if convicted.
They are expected to be arraigned by state District Judge Kelli Johnson in a brief hearing. Community activists who helped organize a protest march across downtown Houston last week said they planned to attend the proceedings.
READ ALSO: Family of victim in Denny’s choking case files lawsuit
“We would like the court process to be transparent so that we can find Justice for John Hernandez and his family,” said Cesar Espinoza, executive director of FIEL Houston, Inc. an organization that advocates for justice for immigrant families.
The organizers and relatives of Hernandez have said they hope both suspects are sentenced to life in prison.
Both are accused of the first–degree felony of intentionally causing the death of John Hernandez, with Terry Thompson accused of choking him to death as he held him pinned to the ground. Chauna Thompson was charged as an accomplice.
READ ALSO: Homicide ruled in man’s death after fight with husband of deputy
The indictments Thursday came a day after more than 150 protesters marched across downtown Houston proclaiming “Justice for John Hernandez” and “Brown Lives Matter.”
The march was the culmination of a week of unrest after cell phone video of the incident was released.
Terry’s attorney, Scott Courtney, said prosecutors rushed the case without giving the grand jury time to consider all the evidence. He has maintained that Terry did not intentionally kill Hernandez and said Hernandez took the first swing after the two men argued.
READ ALSO: New video surfaces in fatal altercation at Denny’s
Later Tuesday, Randall Kallinen, a civil rights attorney representing the family, is expected to hold a press conference to announce the Hernandez family is suing the Thompsons in a wrongful death lawsuit.
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