HOUSTON – A former Katy coach convicted of killing his pregnant wife was in a Houston courtroom on Wednesday for his appeal, KPRC Local 2 reported.
After nearly three years behind bars, convicted murderer David Temple is seeking another chance at freedom. His attorney, Dick DeGuerin, tried to convince a panel of three judges in the Harris County Court of Appeals to overturn Temple's murder conviction.
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DeGuerin said his client is innocent of killing his pregnant wife and school teacher, Belinda Temple, in 1999.
"I think it went very well. The court seems to have done their homework," DeGuerin said.
But, Harris County prosecutors said the 12 jurors who saw all the gruesome pictures, heard all the testimony and evidence, and convicted Temple in 2007 got it right.
A jury determined that David Temple used a shotgun to murder Belinda in the bedroom closet of their Katy home on Jan. 11, 1999. Belinda Temple, 30, was eight months pregnant with a baby girl who she planned to name Erin.
Temple was sentenced to life in prison and fined $10,000.
KPRC Local 2 Legal Analyst Brian Wice said DeGuerin is essentially asking the panel to buy what the jury did not three years ago.
"Anytime you make the argument in front of an appellate court that your client is not guilty, it's an awfully tough sell," Wice said.
Former Harris County prosecutor Kelly Siegler, who tried Temple's case, sat on the front row of the courtroom.
Wice said after listening to Wednesday's oral arguments, the chances of Temple getting his conviction overturned is not likely.
"I think, ultimately, David Temple needs to plan on spending the better part of his natural life in TDCJ," Wice said.
The judges are expected to rule in 60 to 90 days.
Temple is currently serving a life sentence.