Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Friday, April 26, 2024 80° Today's Paper


Prosecutors seek to revoke slaying suspect’s bail

ASSOCIATED PRESS
                                Eric Thompson.
1/1
Swipe or click to see more

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Eric Thompson.

A Hawaii man charged with murder in the shooting death of his wife’s lover should be locked up because of his wealth and the danger he poses to his family, a prosecutor said.

Honolulu prosecutors filed a motion this week asking a judge to revoke Eric Thompson’s $1 million bail. Thompson posted bail and was released after he was arrested on Valentine’s Day, but prosecutors said that after he was indicted last week and now faces trial, he’s more likely to try to flee.

Prosecutors said Thompson shot acupuncturist Jon Tokuhara four times in the face in January because he found out his wife and Tokuhara had a sexual relationship. The “cold-blood” killing was calculated, prosecutors said.

Tokuhara had been treating Joyce Thompson for back pain and fertility issues, police said.

Eric Thompson owns a Kahala home worth more than $2 million and has a bathtub accessibility- modification business, the motion said.

“Defendant sought to end his feeling of betrayal by ending Jon Tokuhara’s life. But Defendant’s wife, Joyce, is still in risk of danger, as are her family, and anyone else Defendant views as responsible,” a prosecutor wrote in the no-bail motion.

After learning of the affair in July, Thompson forbade his wife from seeing Tokuhara and her siblings, the motion said. Thompson wrongly believed his brother-in-law and sister-in-law knowingly facilitated the affair by babysitting the Thompsons’ 1-year-old child when Joyce Thompson went to see Tokuhara, the document said.

“These individuals are persistently in danger,” the motion said.

Eric Thompson has followed all bail conditions, his attorney, David Hayakawa, said Wednesday.

“The state is just upset that he was able to post bail,” Hayakawa said.

If prosecutors believed Thompson was a danger or could flee then they should have requested that he be held without bail earlier, the defense attorney said.

Thompson will plead not guilty at an arraignment scheduled for today, Hayakawa said.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.