HOUSTON – The Latest on a Texas sheriff's deputy and her husband being indicted on murder charges in the death of a man they restrained during a late night confrontation outside of a Houston-area restaurant (all times local):
8:45 p.m.
A lawyer for the husband of a Texas sheriff's deputy says there wasn't enough evidence to warrant a murder indictment against the man.
Scot Courtney, who is representing Terry Thompson, also criticized the Harris County district attorney's office on Thursday for putting the case before a grand jury so quickly.
The jurors indicted Thompson and his wife, Harris County deputy Chauna Thompson, on murder charges Thursday for a confrontation last month that led to 24-year-old John Hernandez's death.
Investigators say Chauna Thompson, who was off duty, helped her husband restrain Hernandez after Terry Thompson saw an intoxicated Hernandez urinating outside of a Denny's restaurant in Sheldon, 17 miles (27.36 kilometers) northeast of Houston.
Hernandez died three days later. A medical examiner ruled that he died of lack of oxygen to the brain caused by strangulation and chest compression.
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7:50 p.m.
Relatives of a man who died after being restrained by a Texas sheriff's deputy and her husband say they're gratified by the couple's indictments on murder charges.
But John Hernandez's family members say they won't stop putting pressure on authorities to bring justice in the case.
During a news conference Thursday, Melissa Hernandez called the indictments in her cousin's death that stemmed from a confrontation last month "a great step in the right direction." However, she added that the family will "keep fighting" and "keep pushing" until getting "the justice that John deserves."
Hernandez's relatives were among more than 40 people who gathered at the Denny's restaurant in Sheldon, 17 miles (27.36 kilometers) northeast of Houston, where the fatal confrontation happened on May 28.
The 24-year-old Hernandez died three days after the confrontation with Harris County deputy Chauna Thompson and her husband, Terry Thompson.
A Harris County grand jury in Houston indicted the Thompsons on Thursday.
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5:15 p.m.
A Texas grand jury has indicted a sheriff's deputy and her husband on murder charges in the death of a man they restrained during a late night confrontation outside a Houston-area restaurant.
John Hernandez died three days after the May 28 confrontation with Harris County deputy Chauna Thompson and her husband, Terry. A Harris County grand jury in Houston indicted the couple on Thursday. The two did not testify before the panel.
Investigators say Chauna Thompson helped her husband restrain Hernandez after Terry Thompson saw an intoxicated Hernandez urinating outside a Houston-area Denny's restaurant.
A medical examiner ruled that the 24-year-old Hernandez died of lack of oxygen to the brain caused by strangulation and chest compression. Thompson has been placed on administrative leave.
A bystander recorded cellphone video of the incident.
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This story corrects spelling of deputy's first name from Shauna to Chauna.
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