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John Goodman Trial Closing Arguments: There Are no Excuses For Goodman’s Actions!

Posted by , March 22, 2012 Print

A jury of five men and a woman is deliberating the fate of multi-millionaire Wellington polo mogul John Goodman, who could face a maximum 30 years in a state prison for the death of 23-year-old engineering graduate Scott Wilson.

john goodman polo trial DUI west palm beach

Goodman, in court (Courtesy CBS 4 Miami)

The jury started working on a verdict about 4:30 p.m. and broke up for the day about 5 p.m. They’ll return tomorrow about 8 a.m.

In their closing arguments in a West Palm Beach court, prosecutor Sherri Collins and defense attorney Roy Black spent an hour and a half recapitulating two weeks of trial that included high profile witnesses, including polo star Nacho Figueras and Heather Colby Hutchins, the 42-year-old woman adopted by Goodman weeks before the trial.

– Goodman trial: Jurors find Goodman’s adoption of a girlfriend a hoot!

Goodman, the founder of International Polo Club Palm Beach in Welly, is accused of being drunk as his $280,000-black convertible crashed into Wilson’s Hyundai on a dark country road in Wellington, sending it into a canal. Wilson drowned on his seat while Goodman walked away after suffering, he claims, a concussion.

– Keep up with the Goodman trial: Click here to register for Gossip Extra’s alerts

Goodman’s defense team claimed the owner of International Polo Club Palm Beach drank after the accident to dull the pain of his injuries. They also tried to prove the accident was caused by a malfunction in Goodman’s $280,000-Bentley.

– Goodman trial shocker: Addictive hydrocodone found in Goodman’s car after the crash

Black claimed the state’s case relied on faulty testimony that Goodman had more than 10 drinks at two parties before the crash, and accused investigators of intimidating witnesses.

“The state is telling you: We can’t prove that Mr. Goodman had more than one drink . . . but we want you to suppose he did,” Black told the jury.

– Bentley Motors to Goodman’s defense team: You’re full of it!

Black also touched on the economic implications of the case, in which a one-percenter Goodman is accused of killing a man at the wheel of an economy car.

“Courtrooms in the United States are not for poor people, and not for rich people,” Black said. “They’re places where people are tried on evidence and equality — not on suppositions.

“This is an important case not just for John Goodman but also for the community!”

– Goodman trial, Day 2: Goodman’s girlfriend/adopted daughter testifies

Black also lauded Goodman for his testifying in his own defense yesterday, despite Goodman’s confusing, convoluted explanations for the accident and the aftermaths.

“That took a lot of courage, ladies and gentlemen,” Black said. “He tried to answer the best he could”

Colllins, meanwhile, emphasized that Goodman left the scene of the accident — a fact no one has denied. Goodman claims his cell phone wasn’t working and walked away to search for one.

– The day John Goodman’s DUI lawyer told guests to get drunk!

“(Goodman’s) automobile caused the death of Scott Wilson,” Collins said in an emotional closing. “The state has proved that alcohol and a therapeutic amount of hyrdrocodone did too . . . (Palm Beach County Medical Examiner) Dr. (Michael) Bell told you that Scott Wilson would have survived this crash if John Goodman had rendered aid.”

For more:

– Troubled polo boss John Goodman adopts adult girlfriend

– John Goodman shocker: Is it incest?

– John Goodman paid $200 for 16 shots of tequila, Grey Goose and Johnnie Walker Red before fatal crash

– Source: Players Club insurance paid DUI victim Wilson’s estate $6 million

Check Out Our Related Gossip:

  1. John Goodman Testifies at His Trial: I Don’t Remember Anything!
  2. Bentley Motors: John Goodman’s Defense Attorney is Full of it!
  3. Trial Shocker: Addictive Pain Pills Found in John Goodman’s Car After Fatal Accident!
  4. Day 2 of John Goodman Trial: Defense Claims Key Witness Has Anti-Goodman Bias!
  5. Medical Examiner: DUI Suspect John Goodman’s Victim Could Have Lived!
  6. John Goodman’s Adopted Daughter/Girlfriend Testifies at His Trial

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4 Comments

  1. You make yourself look far worse than Goodman..., 1 year ago Reply

    Jose what is it with you and Goodman? Is this some unreciprocated man-crush or jealousy or what? 11,000 people died last year as a result of drunk driving – so don’t try and claim this is somehow a unique circumstance….or wait, is it because he has money? And don’t try and play the “justice” angle – Scott Wilson was a wonderful young man it seems and what you write is an insult to the real tragedy here and his memory. Lambasting Goodman wont bring Scott back. You don’t have the facts and you spew venom to a man you don’t know and have never bothered to get his side of the story or report anything but sensationalized rumors.. I truly hope you resolve whatever is wrong in your life because you’re clearly a miserable individual. This world doesn’t need any more hate so please hurry up in resolving your issues and in the interim SHUT UP!

  2. You make yourself look far worse than Goodman..., 1 year ago Reply

    I challenge you to post my comment

    • Jose Lambiet, 1 year ago Reply

      There it is, Isa. Every comment that anyone spends time writing ends up on the site, unless of course it is obscene. I appreciate anyone taking the time to continue or provoke a debate. I don’t know where you think I was unfair to Goodman. Every story posted about this has included his side and the state’s side. I believe that Roy Black, Goodman’s lawyer, is full of shit. And not as good as people think he is. But I don’t think that has been reflected in my writing, except in the story about the Bentley failing. I have no deep feelings about Goodman because I met him twice in social context. Goodman sounded like a nice enough guy to me. As for your question about him being rich? You bet! One of the reasons this trial has made national news is because of the political atmosphere in this country in which the rich are believed to be getting away with murder, paying fewer taxes, and in general get a VIP treatment from government. Class warfare? You bet. It’s here and it’s nothing new in America, but I believe that the public is starting to accept being under the thump of one percenters a little less. Again, Isa, thank you for taking the time to engage on this. I will keep your criticism in mind.

      • Well then..., 1 year ago Reply

        Well if it’s about $ then I sure hope you uphold Lili Wilson to the same standard as Goodman. She’s now worth a lot more than he is after her $40millon civil settlement with Goodman, $6million players club and she’s looking to sue Bentley and given her habit of throwing herself in front of every media outlet available I’d be on the lookout for her trying to extend this to a book deal or something. I haven’t heard once about her donating any of her newfound wealth to charity and I’m assuming that although she had no problem accepting Goodman’s $40 million and helping to publicly crucify him she’ll still try and sentence him to the max. Frankly Scott Wilson sounded like a wonderful young man and this conduct is an insult to his memory. She should request a light sentence for Goodman and instead have him work on something to raise awareness/better the community etc so Scott’s death was not in vain. Why don’t you report the other side of the story Jose? That might help accomplish more good than hating Goodman


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