Waldo
April 19th, 2002, 12:59
This was taken from today's OC Register.
"Man to be tried in Thompson killings
Ex-promoter Michael Goodwin could face life sentence without parole in '88 slayings of racing legend and his wife.
April 19, 2002
By LARRY WELBORN
The Orange County Register
A former business partner of racing legend Mickey Thompson was ordered Thursday to stand trial on two counts of murder for his alleged role in the ambush slayings of Thompson and his wife more than 14 years ago.
Michael Goodwin, who was once known as the king of indoor Motocross racing, faces a possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. A teary-eyed Collene Campbell, a San Juan Capistrano councilwoman and Mickey Thompson's sister, said Thursday that she was relieved Goodwin will stand trial. "But it's not going to be an easy trial," Campbell said in front of several television cameras. "And it's not going to bring Mickey and Trudy back." A solemn Frank Goodwin, the defendant's 88-year-old father, said, "everything will come out at the trial." Goodwin, 57, left the courthouse in an orange jail jumpsuit. He will remain in custody without bail pending his next date in Orange County Superior Court on April 30.
Thompson, once the holder of dozens of land-speed records, and his wife, Trudy, were gunned down March 16, 1988, as they left their home in Bradbury for their office at AnaheimStadium. Both were shot multiple times by two assailants, who made their getaway on 10-speed bicycles.
The search for the Thompsons' killers was featured on television shows "Unsolved Mysteries" and "America's Most Wanted." On Thursday, a camera crew from "48 Hours" was on hand a report to be aired next month. There were no arrests in the headline-making case for more than 13 years until Goodwin was handcuffed at his Dana Point home in December and charged with orchestrating the slayings.
Deputy District Attorney David Brent contends that Goodwin ordered the killings in retaliation for business dealings with Thompson that went bad. Their 1984 business partnership promoting stadium-style racing ended in a lawsuit in which Goodwin was ordered to pay Thompson more than $500,000 in damages.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Francisco Briseno ruled Thursday that there was sufficient circumstantial evidence presented during a three-day preliminary hearing to require a trial.
Briseno also ruled that Orange County has jurisdiction to prosecute Goodwin, even though the Thompsons were killed in front of their home in Los Angeles County. Defense attorney Jeffrey Benice asked that the case be dismissed because of insufficient evidence.
He said the alleged threats Goodwin made on Thompson's life after the lawsuit were typical of the tough way people talk in some circles. Other than the threats, Benice said, "there is nothing that ties Michael Goodwin to the murders." In an interview later, Benice said, "Mike will now get his opportunity to fully and finally vindicate himself in a trial before a jury."
BRAAAAAAAAP!
"Man to be tried in Thompson killings
Ex-promoter Michael Goodwin could face life sentence without parole in '88 slayings of racing legend and his wife.
April 19, 2002
By LARRY WELBORN
The Orange County Register
A former business partner of racing legend Mickey Thompson was ordered Thursday to stand trial on two counts of murder for his alleged role in the ambush slayings of Thompson and his wife more than 14 years ago.
Michael Goodwin, who was once known as the king of indoor Motocross racing, faces a possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. A teary-eyed Collene Campbell, a San Juan Capistrano councilwoman and Mickey Thompson's sister, said Thursday that she was relieved Goodwin will stand trial. "But it's not going to be an easy trial," Campbell said in front of several television cameras. "And it's not going to bring Mickey and Trudy back." A solemn Frank Goodwin, the defendant's 88-year-old father, said, "everything will come out at the trial." Goodwin, 57, left the courthouse in an orange jail jumpsuit. He will remain in custody without bail pending his next date in Orange County Superior Court on April 30.
Thompson, once the holder of dozens of land-speed records, and his wife, Trudy, were gunned down March 16, 1988, as they left their home in Bradbury for their office at AnaheimStadium. Both were shot multiple times by two assailants, who made their getaway on 10-speed bicycles.
The search for the Thompsons' killers was featured on television shows "Unsolved Mysteries" and "America's Most Wanted." On Thursday, a camera crew from "48 Hours" was on hand a report to be aired next month. There were no arrests in the headline-making case for more than 13 years until Goodwin was handcuffed at his Dana Point home in December and charged with orchestrating the slayings.
Deputy District Attorney David Brent contends that Goodwin ordered the killings in retaliation for business dealings with Thompson that went bad. Their 1984 business partnership promoting stadium-style racing ended in a lawsuit in which Goodwin was ordered to pay Thompson more than $500,000 in damages.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Francisco Briseno ruled Thursday that there was sufficient circumstantial evidence presented during a three-day preliminary hearing to require a trial.
Briseno also ruled that Orange County has jurisdiction to prosecute Goodwin, even though the Thompsons were killed in front of their home in Los Angeles County. Defense attorney Jeffrey Benice asked that the case be dismissed because of insufficient evidence.
He said the alleged threats Goodwin made on Thompson's life after the lawsuit were typical of the tough way people talk in some circles. Other than the threats, Benice said, "there is nothing that ties Michael Goodwin to the murders." In an interview later, Benice said, "Mike will now get his opportunity to fully and finally vindicate himself in a trial before a jury."
BRAAAAAAAAP!