Mother Of Eddy Curry's Slain Ex: Killer's Conviction 'Was Elation'
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A day after a 40-year-old attorney was convicted of killing former Chicago Bulls player Eddy Curry's ex-girlfriend and 10-month-old daughter, the woman's mother was urging other victims of domestic abuse to take charge of their lives.
On Tuesday, a Cook County jury convicted Fredrick Goings of two counts of first-degree murder in the 2009 shooting deaths of 24-year-old Nova Henry, and her 10-month-old daughter, Ava.
CBS 2's Susanna Song reports Henry's mother, Yolan Henry, was in court when a jury returned a guilty verdict against Goings on Tuesday. Wednesday morning, she told reporters "It was like having a building lifted up off of my chest. It was elation."
"He will never have the opportunity to take another life as he did Nova's and Ava's. As a mother, as a father, as friends, as siblings, and people generally who know them – we stand before you here today and ask that you, or anyone that you may know, take charge of your life if you're in an abusive or destructive relationship," she added.
Nova Henry and her daughter were found shot to death inside their South Loop townhouse in January 2009.
Henry had hired Goings in a child support case against Curry, Ava's father. Goings and Henry developed an on-and-off relationship, and prosecutors alleged Goings became abusive.
Goings allegedly became enraged when he learned Henry had hired another attorney, and was planning to contest $24,000 in legal fees charged by Goings.
Yolan Henry's testimony was key in the case against Goings. She testified her 3-year-old grandson Noah – who is also the son of Curry and Nova Henry – was at the townhouse when his mother and sister were killed.
She said, when she asked Noah who hurt his mother, he said, "Fredrick did it," then placed his finger over his lips and said "shh."
Goings fled to Indiana after the murders, and was arrested after jumping into a hotel pool to wash himself, and clean his fingernails, as officers showed up to take him into custody. He was released after his initial release, but arrested again in Chicago and charged with the murders.
With his conviction, he faces a possible life sentence.
"Domestic violence was the route of this evil act committed by Fredrick Goings, and no one should live in fear of their life, ever. Nova was afraid," Yolan Henry said Wednesday.
Goings' next court date has been scheduled for March 11.
