PASADENA, Calif. (March 8, 2005) — Pasadena Superior Court Judge Janice Croft denied a motion March 7 to dismiss the case against Michael Frank Goodwin, who is charged with the 1988 murders of racing icon Mickey Thompson and his wife Trudy.
Mr. Goodwin, who was arrested in December 2001, was ordered to stand trial for the murders last October by Judge Terri Schwartz, who ruled that there was sufficient legal evidence found against him during a preliminary hearing. Judge Croft reviewed the transcript from the October hearing and agreed that there was sufficient evidence against Mr. Goodwin to force him to stand trial, according to Jane Robison, news secretary for Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.
On March 17, the defense will present another motion to dismiss the case, this time alleging misconduct by the investigators. No judge currently is scheduled to hear the case, Ms. Robison said. If the next motion also is denied, either a pre-trial hearing will be held or the actual trial setting.
Mr. Goodwin is charged with two counts of murder with the special circumstances of lying in wait and multiple murders. The Thompsons were shot to death in execution-style manner March 16, 1988, in the driveway of their Bradbury, Calif., home.
Two masked gunmen fled the scene on bicycles and have never been identified. Mr. Goodwin, a former motorcross promoter and Mr. Thompson's business partner until their relationship went sour over legal disputes, has long been suspected of orchestrating the murders.