Promoter Gets Life Without Parole for Murder of Racing Legend Mickey Thompson and Wife

A motocross promoter was sentenced to two life terms Thursday for the 1988 murders of racing legend Mickey Thompson and his wife Trudy.

Although Goodwin continued to deny his role in the crimes, he was sentenced to the maximum sentence, without parole for the killings.

Goodwin told the judge, "Mickey and Trudy-it was a tragedy that they were killed. The world lost someone who was a great inventor. I have condolences. But I can't apologize because I'm not guilty of the crime."

Thompson, a record-breaking race car driver in the 1960s, held a patent on a water-filled racetrack bumper. He also designed the wide profile tire we use today. He had patented numerous inventions in his life time.

Thompson had raced in almost every form of Motor sports possible, Drag Racing, Boats, Road Courses, Mexican Road Race, Bonneville attempts, Indy 500, and Off Road racing. Thompson has set over 500 National and International records.

The Thompsons lived in the exclusive community of Bradbury on the outskirts of Los Angeles County. They were ambushed early in the morning on their way to work in their driveway. Evidence showed that the assassins waited about half an hour for the couple to emerge from their home. They even had eaten an orange during the wait. The killers shot both Thompson and his wife in the head before fleeing on bicycles. They had never been identified.

Goodwin feels that the current "political climate" did not allow him to get a fair trial. He said that his only hope for justice is the appellate system. This was the first time that he had spoken during his two-month trail.

The case against Goodwin was circumstantial evidence that Goodwin wanted Thompson dead because of a bitter business dispute. Thompson and Goodwin had merged companies and a civil court had ordered Goodwin to pay Thompson nearly a million dollars.

Several witnesses testified during the trial that Goodwin had made death threats against Thompson, in the year before the couple was murdered. These threats were the main reason the jury found Goodwin guilty.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Teri Schwartz had this to say," There is nothing to assume that Mr. Goodwin wasn't responsible. The circumstantial evidence was overwhelming. He made numerous statements to numerous witnesses over a period of time preceding the murders. It was unparalleled."

Mickey Thompson's sister Colleen Campbell personally thanked John Walsh and America's Most Wanted for keeping the story alive. She had also addressed the judge, describing how the slayings have devastated her family.

"Michael Goodwin is a coward and a bully who hired and arranged for shooters to kill Mickey and Trudy, all for his self-indulgence, greed and to accomplish his desired sinful plan," she said and added, "We will forever be forced to relive those final excruciating, agonizing and highly emotional moments for Mickey and Trudy."

Sources:

Mickey Thompson Official Website:
http://www.thompson-motorsports.com/mt.html

Court TV:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ct/20070302/cr_ct/promotergetslifewithoutparoleformurderofracinglegendmickeythompsonandwife;_ylt=Ai1XfX1QYTQgwKQtVX8ne4NvzwcF

Amercia's Most Wanted:
http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=42379