Millionaire John Goodman Loses Attorney Roy Black
WEST PALM BEACH (CBSMiami) – One of South Florida's most well-known legal figures, Roy Black, is no longer on the high-profile DUI manslaughter case of Palm Beach millionaire and Polo Club mogul John Goodman.
According to The Sun Sentinel, the Miami-based defense attorney asked the court on Friday to be excused from Goodman's defense team. Partner Mark Shapiro also asked to withdraw his representation.
Attorneys for Goodman just recently won him a new trial due to perceived bias from a member of the jury.
Goodman's next court date is scheduled for June 3 to discuss trial plans with Circuit Judge Jeffrey Colbath. Defense attorneys Guy Fronstin of Boca Raton and Doug Duncan of West Palm Beach still remain on board for Goodman.
In March 2012, Goodman was convicted of DUI manslaughter in the death of Scott Wilson, 23, in February 2010. He was subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Prosecutors claimed Goodman was drunk when his Bentley slammed into Wilson's car. The force of the crash pushed the car into the canal where Wilson drowned.
Investigators said Goodman left the scene and waited nearly one hour before calling 911.
Goodman's defense team argued he didn't realize he had hit the vehicle and then left the scene to get treatment for his injuries.
Prosecutors claim Goodman was driving under the influence when he crashed into Wilson. A blood sample taken nearly three hours after the crash showed Goodman had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.
Goodman admitted on the stand during his first trial that he had four drinks over the course of the evening. Goodman said the last thing he remembered before the accident was that the brakes seemed odd.
Goodman told the jury that after the crash, he passed out. When he came to, he said he was disoriented and didn't initially realize he hit anyone, because Wilson's car was submerged in the canal.
Goodman said he took off walking, looking for a phone. He said he ended up in an office in this barn, known as "a man-cave with a TV and bar. He said he had a few drinks to kill the pain of his injuries and that's why he failed a blood alcohol test.
Goodman told the jury he drank in the "man-cave" and then hiked through a field to a nearby trailer where he first called his girlfriend and then called 911. On the 911 tape, Goodman sounded disoriented, continually asking if everyone was alright.
He said that it was during that call that he got scared, realizing the wreck was worse than he knew.
