The high-profile Thompson trial has captivated Hawaii, and the upcoming episode of What’s the Law is diving deep into the case. Host Coralie Chun Matayoshi joined Living808 to preview what listeners can expect from her legal breakdown of the verdict and what comes next.
Eric Thompson’s second trial for the murder of acupuncturist Jon Tokuhara—his wife’s lover—ended with a guilty verdict for both murder and firearms charges. The first trial had resulted in a hung jury. Coralie shared how both sides shaped their narratives using themes to help jurors make sense of complex evidence.
The prosecution painted Thompson as a controlling perfectionist who resorted to murder in an attempt to "fix" his life after his wife's infidelity. They highlighted how he forced her to confess the affair to her parents and sign a post-nuptial agreement just 11 days before the murder, giving him full custody of their daughter and the family home if they divorced. The defense, on the other hand, criticized the police investigation as flawed, citing contaminated DNA evidence and questioning the reliability of surveillance footage.
While motive isn’t required to convict, Coralie explained that jurors naturally want to understand “why.” In this case, the close-range gunshot wounds—four bullets to the face—indicated a personal connection, with no signs of robbery or struggle.
One key piece of evidence was DNA from a white bucket hat found at the scene. Independent lab results showed it was 16.4 trillion times more likely to belong to Thompson than others. The lab also excluded another potential suspect, ruling out Darryl Fujita with overwhelming certainty.
The post-nuptial agreement also raised eyebrows. While the defense claimed it was the wife's idea to show loyalty, the prosecution argued it was meant to secure her silence under spousal privilege, which allows a spouse to refuse to testify as long as the marriage is intact.
Thompson now faces life in prison with the possibility of parole after the jury declined to enhance the sentence. He could also receive up to 20 years for using a firearm during the felony.
But the legal battle isn’t over. Coralie noted that Thompson will likely appeal, possibly arguing jury instruction errors or the improper admission of evidence. Meanwhile, Jon Tokuhara’s mother has filed a civil suit against Thompson and his wife, which carries a lower burden of proof than the criminal case.
In addition to this gripping episode, What’s the Law will also cover last-minute tax tips and explore recent plea deals by top officials involved in the Kealoha corruption case. Tune in to What’s the Law at KHON2.com for these stories and more.
