HOUSTON – The first day of jury selection in the DUI manslaughter trial of Houston millionaire John Goodman wrapped up in South Florida Tuesday.
Goodman, whose family ties to Houston run deep, is accused of driving drunk and killing a 23-year-old college graduate on a dark South Florida road two years ago. Officials said Goodman T-boned another car while driving his convertible Bentley on a deserted intersection in Wellington, Fla. Traffic homicide investigators said Goodman walked away from that accident and didn't call 911 until 54 minutes later.
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Goodman, whose family built their wealth in the air conditioning business, is known worldwide for the famed International Polo Club in Wellington that he built.
Officials say his net worth is a secret, but his father reportedly sold the family business eight years ago for $1.4 billion. Goodman recently adopted his girlfriend to allegedly shelter his family fortune in the civil case.
Moments before the start of jury selection, the Judge Jeffrey Colbath of the 15th Circuit Court of Florida handed prosecutors a victory and a defeat. He said jurors can see post-accident photos of Scott Wilson, the crash victim, and they can see the actual cars involved in the crash. Jurors won't, however, hear allegations of Goodman using cocaine.
Eighty potential jurors were questioned, and much of the focus was on the months of intense media coverage. Nearly a dozen potential jurors were gone by late morning.
If he is found guilty, Goodman could face 30 years in prison. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.