HOUSTON – Heather Temple, David Temple's current wife, has filed for divorce, KPRC 2 Investigates has learned.
She filed for divorce Thursday morning.
David Temple is charged with murder in the 1999 slaying of his former wife, Belinda Temple.
David Temple spent nine years in prison after a jury convicted him in 2007. After a lengthy appeals process, his conviction was overturned in 2016 for prosecutorial misconduct. He was released on bail while he awaited a new trial.
Belinda Temple was eight months pregnant at the time of her death.
David Temple went on to marry Heather, and she is expected to be called on to testify during David's trial.
"Normally you don't see a divorce filed in the middle of a trial so this certainly was a stunner, but Belinda’s family was needless to say pleasantly surprised," said victims rights advocate Andy Kahan. "Hopefully with the filing of divorce, that will kind of free her up where she can feel more at ease and let the jury know exactly what she knows."
David Temple's retrial started Monday and is expected to last four weeks.
Here is a statement from Belinda's family:
“We are hopeful that by filing for divorce, Heather will be more candid and factual as to what she knows about Belinda’s murder."
Heather Temple's statement sent this statement:
"It is confirmed Heather has filed for divorce from her husband Thursday morning. We are aware that her divorce filing is contemporaneous with the David Temple trial; however, we simply ask the media to please respect her privacy at this time."
