Mickey Thompson Murders
Here are a few issues about the Mickey Thompson Murders case, publicly known, but patently false.
• MICHAEL GOODWIN WAS THE ONLY SUSPECT. A prosecution allegation that newly discovered evidence proves false was that there were no other suspects; there were many. One confessed, was in custody in 1988, but was mysteriously released. Another confessed to being a lookout on the morning of the murders. Many others were known, and some were investigated during the 13 years following the murders. None of this was brought up to the jury during the trial that convicted Goodwin because “if not Goodwin, then who?”
• GOODWIN DID NOT PAY THE COURT-ORDERED JUDGMENT. Evidence that had been suppressed for 20+ years proves what the prosecutors told the jury, “Goodwin had Thompson killed so he would not have to pay Thompson’s judgment,” is patently false since Goodwin had paid far more than was owed to Thompson before the murders. He had no motive to have the Thompson killed. Goodwin’s bankruptcy trustee always had sufficient funds to pay the judgment. While in bankruptcy, the law prevented Goodwin from paying anything to anyone directly. The bankruptcy paid $931,000 in months before the murders, more than Mickey's $794,000 judgment. However, at trial, Goodwin’s defense attorney said Goodwin never paid Thompson in full, only $4000. Millions more were taken from Goodwin’s bankruptcy illegally. None of this was brought up at trial.
• TWO AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE SEEN AS THE SHOOTERS. Evidence recently obtained refutes prosecutors’ assertions of the false scenario of “Black Shooters.” The lead detective conjured this story up in 2001, 13 years after the murders. Not one of the five witnesses the L.A. Sheriff’s lead detective in the case interviewed saw a Black man, yet the detective said there were two. Only a White man was reported on the crime scene, including in the original 911 call. Investigators sought a White suspect for 9 years following the murders. Thompson’s sister offered a $1 Million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two Black men she knew did not exist and would therefore not have to pay the reward. Goodwin was convicted of conspiring with two imaginary Black men to have the Thompsons murdered!
• GOODWIN FLED THE U.S. AND HAD HIS YACHT REPOSSESSED IN GUATEMALA. Prosecutors alleged at trial that Mike Goodwin “Fled to Guatemala and hid for three years.” However, there was no evidence to support that allegation presented to the jury, and newly attained evidence completely exposes this as false. Police reports show that Goodwin was in the U.S. most of the year following the murders, which occurred in March 1988. He met with police a week after the murders and was told he was only a “witness,” not a “suspect,” and he could travel. Goodwin’s lawyer offered to have the authorities interview him in December, but they declined. His attorney knew where he was at all times. Goodwin’s boat, which prosecutors told the jury had been repossessed in Guatemala in 1991, was documented to have been turned over to the bank in 1990, not repossessed in Guatemala or anywhere.
In the Mickey Thompson Murder trial, these are only a few of the more than a dozen gross examples of prosecutorial misconduct and malfeasance. For more information or court filings with evidence of what is stated above, contact John Bradley John@JusticeOnTrial.org or 530-320-2590