Life in prison is verdict in murder of car racer
A former business partner of murdered racing legend Mickey Thompson was ordered yesterday to spend the rest of his life in prison, despite declaring that he was not responsible for the deaths of Thompson and his wife.
A former business partner of murdered racing legend
Mickey Thompson
was ordered yesterday to spend the rest of his life in prison, despite declaring that he was not responsible for the deaths of Thompson and his wife.
Former motorsports promoter Michael Goodwin said the 1988 killings of Mickey and Trudy Thompson were "a tragedy."
"I can't apologize because I'm not guilty of this crime," Goodwin, 61, told the judge in Pasadena, Calif., before being sentenced to two consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Thompsons were shot to death while leaving their gated home in the Los Angeles suburb of Bradbury. The killers, who came on bicycles, were never caught.
Goodwin used to work with Thompson, a high-profile motorsports figure who pursued land-speed records, drove everything from dragsters to midget cars, and promoted off-road racing.
The prosecution said Goodwin sent hit men to kill the couple as revenge for a business deal that went sour and led to a legal judgment of more than $700,000 against Goodwin.
After the sentencing, Thompson's sister, Collene Campbell, and Ivan "Ironman" Stewart, an off-road racing champ who credited his career to Thompson, stood outside the courthouse waving black-and-white checkered flags.
Prosecutors said the case will remain open until the two shooters are caught.
Philly File
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