Judge Kelli Johnson denied Friday, April 13, a change of venue requested by former Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Chauna Thompson and her husband Terry Thompson regarding their upcoming trials for the murder of John Hernandez at a local Denny’s restaurant last year.
Judge Johnson leads the 178th Criminal Court and, according to a clerk from her court, she said she doesn’t think there is prejudice that could negatively affect the trials.
The Thompsons had argued that, because of the publicity surrounding the case, they couldn’t get a fair trial in Harris County.
Several Houston-based civic and community organizations protested in the weeks after Hernandez’s killing, which occurred in May 2017 at a Denny’s restaurant located in Crosby, about 25 miles northeast of Houston.
Terry Thompson killed Hernandez during a physical confrontation in which he placed him on a choke hold as his wife was by his side.
Thompson reportedly confronted Hernandez because he was urinating outside of the restaurant.
Terry Thompson’s trial is scheduled to start on May 18th and Chauna Thompson’s trial is scheduled to start on June 1st.
UPDATE: Chauna and Terry Thompson, leaving courtroom after judge denies change of venue motion request by the couple. The two have been charged with the murder, in chokehold death of John Hernandez, that happened near a Crosby Denny's. Full story @noon on #khou11 pic.twitter.com/CUIKXyr54M
— Michelle Choi (@MichelleKHOU) April 13, 2018
#BREAKING::: #HarrisCounty judge denies motion for a change of venue for Chauna and Terry Thompson. Both accused of murdering #JohnHernandez May 2017. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/J7NNYdnwYw
— Melissa Correa (@KHOUmelissa) April 13, 2018