Jury To See Damaged Cars In Goodman Trial
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Jurors in the DUI manslaughter trial of Palm Beach County polo mogul John Goodman will be leaving the courtroom Thursday to see the two cars involved in the deadly crash that claimed the life of 23-year-old Scott Wilson.
Thursday could be the final full day of testimony for the prosecution, which claims Goodman was driving drunk and sped through a stop sign before knocking Wilson's car into a canal where he died.
"And what did the defendant do? He walked away. And when he found a phone, he didn't call 911. He called his girlfriend," prosecutor Ellen Roberts said in her opening statements to jurors Monday, according to CBS affiliate WPEC.
Goodman has put his faith in famed defense attorney Roy Black. The noted defense attorney said Goodman didn't drink until after the crash when he was at the home of a polo player, Kris Kampsen. Goodman's blood-alcohol level was roughly twice the legal limit a few hours after the crash.
Black said engineers say Goodman's Bentley malfunctioned and that sensors shut the car down from the dashboard forward which is why the car raced through the intersection.
The case has drawn national attention after Goodman adopted his younger girlfriend as his daughter, allegedly to hide proceeds from any pending civil suits.
The state said Goodman spent more than $200 on a bar tab, including tequila, mind erasers and other drinks.
Prosecutors plan on resting their case Friday after testimony is given by a medical examiner and forensic toxicologist who will confirm Goodman's blood alcohol level three hours after the crash was twice the legal limit, according to the Palm Beach Post.
The first witnesses who testified on Tuesday established that Goodman was drinking in the hours just before the fatal crash; the defense argued the witnesses only saw Goodman have three drinks.
Black plans to call engineers who will testify about the Bentley's alleged malfunction before the crash along with a doctor who treated Goodman for injuries he sustained during the accident. According to the Post, jurors could begin deliberating the case by next week.
