John Tercheria: Man pleads not guilty to wife's slaying at their Blackhawk home
DANVILLE (KTVU) -- The Danville man accused of killing his wife at their Blackhawk home last month pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
John Tercheria, 69, is facing several charges in connection with the death of Linda Marie Tercheria, who was found dead at the couple's home on Quail Run Lane. Prosecutors have decided to drop the torture charge, raising the possibility that the judge could decide to set bail for him.
Tercheria had posted a $1 million bail in August after he was booked into the Martinez jail on a murder charge. But autopsy results, which showed that the woman suffered blows from a hammer at least 20 times, prompted the judge to revoke the man's bond.
Authorities have said that Tercheria's wife had filed for a legal separation from in April, 2015.
Prosecutors have removed a special circumstance alleging that the killing was "especially heinous, cruel or depraved." That means Tercheria will no longer face the death penalty.
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