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Duke University Law Professor Testifies
Jeffrey Coyne, a Duke University law school professor, who was
trustee in Goodwin's bankruptcy case, testified that he bought a
gun, and bullet proof vest, because of Goodwin's threats.
Goodwin allegedly sent two thugs to Coyne's office building two
hours after Thompson was executed. After security guards said two
men came looking for him at his downtown Los Angeles office
building, Coyne testified that he hid his wife, and five children.
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Men Appear Two Hours After Thompson Slain
The two men, who were never identified, asked a guard where they
could find Professor Coyne's car, which they accurately described as
a red Corvette with a white top.
Coyne testified that when the guard demanded to know why, the men
jumped into a car and sped out of the underground garage through an
entrance.
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Goodwin Previously Threatened Coyne
Coyne's job was to distribute Goodwin's assets to the creditors.
Two weeks before the slayings, Coyne and Goodwin met in a law
office.
Goodwin walked up to Coyne and said: - 'You better lighten up or
things will get bad.' Coyne said he backed up, not
believing what he had heard.
"If you ruin my life, I'll ruin yours," Goodwin told Coyne
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Goodwin Wants Bankruptcy To Pay Bogus Claims
The confrontation came because Goodwin had his wife, and family,
put if bogus claims, and Coyne refused to pay. Goodwin's wife
claimed $130,000 in assets for work performed, Goodwin's parents
claimed $20,000. Coyne also seized Goodwin's Mercedes auto.
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He Threatened Six Others
A half dozen witnesses testified about how mercurial and
threatening Goodwin was. His rivalry with Thompson led first to
their partnership, then to their falling out and eventually,
authorities allege, to Goodwin's ordering the murders of Thompson
and his wife, Trudy, outside their estate in the affluent San
Gabriel Valley town of Bradbury.
A second business associate of Goodwin's testified earlier Tuesday
that he too had been threatened.
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Threatens a Stadium Manager
Greg Smith, manager of Anaheim Stadium at the time, said that six
weeks before the Thompson murders, he was at a bankruptcy hearing
involving Goodwin's business. The business held lucrative rights for
January motor sports events at the stadium, which Smith was seeking
to transfer.
"Goodwin made comments to the effect that, 'You don't know what
you're doing to me. You'll be sorry for this. I'll be back.' "
At first Smith didn't think he was being spoken to, so he looked
around. Smith said Goodwin was sitting directly behind him and no
one else was nearby. Goodwin was "mad, confrontational, and very,
very upset," Smith said.
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Mickey Thompson's Sister Testifies
Campbell, acting as executor of her brother's estate, sought to
force Goodwin to make good on debts outstanding to Thompson's
estate, and Goodwin exploded telling Campbell: - "I'm going to kill
you too, bitch,' or 'I'm going to get you too, bitch.''
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Goodwin Sold Everything
In the months before the murder Michael Goodwin liquidated more
than $500,000 in assets. Moving assets from California to offshore
accounts, investing in gold coins and placing a down payment on a
$400,000 sailing yacht. Goodwin, and his wife, had been commingling
their assets for years.
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