Mickey Thompson Murder Update

IN LIFE OR DEATH, MICKEY THOMPSON IS STILL THEIR BEST MAN

PASADENA, CA. - - -The often delayed and long awaited preliminary hearing, for the March 16, 1988, murders of Speed King Mickey Thompson, 59, and his wife Trudy, 41, is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles County Pasadena Superior Court on September 8, 2004. That same date happens to be the fifty-third wedding anniversary of Mickey Thompson's only sibling, his sister Collene and her husband, Gary Campbell. The date is especially significant as Mickey Thompson was the Campbell's best man for their wedding more than a half-century ago. Mickey Thompson and his wife, Trudy, where shot to death on the morning of March 16, 1988 at 6:00 a.m. as they were leaving their Bradbury, CA home to go to work. Former short-time business partner of Thompson's, Michael Frank Goodwin, 59, (dob 2-4-1945), was charged in the double homicide case with two counts of murder, with the special circumstances of lying in wait and multiple murders. The Los Angeles District Attorney's office will decide whether to seek the death penalty when the case is closer to trial. To date, the actual hired "Shooters" have not been identified. Los Angeles County District Attorney's office filed the case and will prosecute Goodwin for the sixteen-year old murders of the Thompsons. Goodwin was first arrested at his Dana Point, Orange County residence, December 13, 2001, for the double homicides of the Thompsons. He was arraigned four days later in the Orange County courts and ordered held without bail. April 18, 2002, following several days of hearings and defense motions, Orange County Superior Court Judge Francisco P. Briseno ruled there was sufficient evidence to bind Goodwin over for trial in Orange County. Goodwin's defense filed frequent appeals and motions, causing several trial postponements. Goodwin had the right to go to trial within 60 days following his Orange County arraignment in April 2002. In contrast, the victims' family does not have a right to a speedy trial. November 2002, the District Court of Appeal agreed to hear another Petition for a Writ of Mandate filed by the Goodwin defense in their attempt to reverse the decisions of two Orange County Superior Court Judges, the Honorable Briseno and the Honorable Frank F. Fasel. After considering substantial testimony in the preliminary hearings, both Judges had ruled that Orange County had jurisdiction over the trial. For many months, the Goodwin defense team attempted to have the case "dismissed" or have the trial moved out of Orange County, where they had already spent in excess of twenty-five days in the courtroom. Goodwin's original trial was scheduled to begin in Orange County Superior Court on July 8, 2002, which was one of several trial dates cancelled because of the Goodwin defense motions. April 23, 2004, Goodwin's defense won a Petition for a Writ of Mandate, when the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled that Orange County did not have jurisdiction over the case and Orange County must dismiss the charges. Along with the Superior Court Judges, many legal minds disagreed with the appellant opinion. However, since there were countless people who wanted the trial to get underway, a decision was made by the Orange County Prosecutor not to appeal the ruling to the California Supreme Court, which would further delay the trial. Therefore, because of substantial evidence against Goodwin, the Los Angeles District Attorney filed murder charges, moving the trial from Orange to Los Angeles County.. Prior to the Thompson murders, Goodwin had been ordered by the civil court to pay Thompson a judgment in excess of five hundred thousand dollars, none of which has ever been paid to Thompson or his estate. Following the Thompson murders, Goodwin and his wife, Diane Sidel Goodwin, left the country for about three years. On their return, the Goodwin's were arrested and convicted in Orange County U.S. Federal Court of thirteen felony counts of conspiracy and lying to financial institutions. They were sentenced to 30 months in Federal prison and began serving time, July 8, 1996.

What Happened to some of the Thompson family on the day of the murders:

A ruthless and tragic double homicide occurred more than sixteen years ago in the small Southern California hillside community of Bradbury. The victims' remaining family is still awaiting justice and being tormented by continued defense motions and trial delays. (Only the accused has a right to a speedy trial, not the victim.) As it was just breaking daylight, March 16, 1988, a popular and hard working couple were following their normal daily routine and leaving their home early to start their workday. Suddenly, the neighbors heard gunfire and a desperate man's voice yelling, "Don't hurt my wife, don't hurt my wife, please, please, don't hurt my wife." His pleading voice was followed by the screams of a terrified woman. Then, more gunshots, a hushed silence with only the muffled sound of the two male shooters peddling away on their bicycles. The once happy and fun loving couple lay lifeless, their blood running down the driveway and their bodies riddled with bullets fired by hired gunman, who had been waiting outside their residence for the sole purpose of murdering the couple. In just a few minutes the world would learn the murdered victims were famous auto racing legend Mickey Thompson and his beautiful wife, Trudy, shot to death on that ill-fated morning. The couple had planned to stop by their Anaheim Stadium office and then drive on to see their niece, who was in dangerous premature labor. She was in the hospital attempting to delay the birth of her third child. Sadly, because the Thompsons were victims of a cowardly murder, the couple never arrived at the Orange County hospital. Instead, as their niece was lying in her hospital bed receiving intravenous medication to stop her labor, she was stunned with disbelief as she witnessed the first news broadcasts of the horrifying murders of her Aunt Trudy and Uncle Mickey. What she saw, was their motionless and bloodied bodies lying in the driveway at their home. She did not want to believe what she had just seen on television. She hysterically called her mother, Collene. "Mom, tell me it isn't true, please, please." Her mother had to confirm the awful truth. Soon after, that same expectant mother went to her Aunt and Uncle funeral on a gurney. Her son was born two and a half months later and named after his Great Uncle, Mickey. That young man has just celebrated his sixteenth birthday. Obviously, he never had the opportunity to share life with his Aunt and famous Uncle, but he constantly asks about the trial. The teenage great nephew of the Thompsons said, "My family continues to be devastated with the long delays of the trial, which has expanded our family's pain." He went on to say, "I probably feel somewhat like all the others who deeply loved and respected my Aunt and Uncle. We all know a murder conviction will not bring them back, but we are hopeful that justice will finally be served. We are grateful to the investigators and prosecutors who worked to seek justice and feel sad that these fine people are continually demeaned by the accused."

General Information:

Michael Frank Goodwin, DOB: 2-4-45; Federal Case # SACR 93-67-1 (Santa Ana Criminal, year 1993, case number 67, defendant "1", Federal Court.) Michael Goodwin and former wife, Diane Sidel Goodwin, convicted of 13 counts of conspiracy and lying to banks, sentenced to 30 months, federal prison, July 8, 1996.

Thompson Murder Case, whose doing what?:

Los Angeles County Sheriff File: # 088-04387-0511-011 Investigator in charge: Los Angeles County Sheriff Homicide Bureau: Detective M. Lillienfeld. (323) 890-5500 - Refer to the Thompson murders and file # above.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Case No. GA 052683 Prosecuting the case will be: Los Angeles County Head Deputy District Attorney, Patrick Dixon of the Major Crimes Division and Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, Alan Jackson, Major Crimes Division.

State of California, Public Defender Defense Attorney: Elena Saris, Public Defender

Please note: We appreciate the many inquiries and great interest regarding the status of the trial for the tragic murders of Mickey and Trudy Thompson. Hopefully, the above will be interesting and helpful information. Thank you for caring and not forgetting about these two very special people. We are attaching a photo that is very meaningful to us, as it is a vivid reminder: "An evil killer can take our loved ones, but they can never take away our beautiful memories". ---- Gary and Collene From: Gary and Collene (Thompson) Campbell Home phone: (949) 496-4647