Dwayne Goodrich
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FR Search for Keyword Dwayne Goodrich
ROBERT FLAGG / WFAA-TV
Two men were killed and another injured early Tuesday
by a hit-and-run driver on I-35E.
Above photo from this article:
Posted on 08/08/2003 4:23:07 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Jury chosen for GoodrichHit-and-run trial for former Cowboys player begins Monday
08/08/2003
Prosecutors and defense attorneys preparing for the trial of former Dallas Cowboy Dwayne Goodrich spent most of the day Thursday grilling a courtroom full of Dallas County residents to find a dozen jurors and one alternate to hear the high-profile manslaughter case.
Both sides questioned prospective jurors extensively, focusing on legal issues related to the hit-and-run crash that killed two men, as well as attitudes about the treatment of professional athletes in the justice system.
"Is there such a diehard Cowboys fan out there that you'd give a Cowboy a break?" asked prosecutor Howard Blackmon. "That's ridiculous. ... You don't come in and convict him because he's a Dallas Cowboy; you don't cut him a break because he's a Cowboy."
The two men and 11 women, one of whom will later be identified as an alternate, pledged that they would judge the case only on the evidence presented in the trial, which begins Monday.
Defense attorney Reed Prospere told the panel that he was concerned that media coverage of the case had put his client at a disadvantage, even though the burden is on prosecutors to prove their case. He urged the prospective jurors to be honest and state whether they could be impartial despite the publicity.
"You've got to start out like so many of you said: 'I'd want somebody fair and open-minded if I found myself seated where he is seated,' " he said.
Mr. Prospere also questioned prospective jurors about their views on drinking and driving. He said he suspected that testimony might be admitted showing that his client had consumed alcohol sometime before he got in his car.
He reminded the panel that it's not illegal to consume alcohol and drive – provided that the driver is not intoxicated – and asked whether jurors had any prejudices related to that.
Eliminations began after more than 80 prospective jurors filled out a six-page questionnaire Wednesday.
On Thursday, many in the remaining pool of 67 potential jurors indicated they knew some of the details about the January 2003 incident in which two good Samaritans were struck and killed as they tried to aid a motorist who was trapped inside a burning car. Another man was seriously injured.
Mr. Goodrich faces two charges of manslaughter stemming from the incident. He also has been charged with three counts of failing to stop and render aid and one charge of aggravated assault, though prosecutors have chosen not to pursue those charges at this time.
If convicted, Mr. Goodrich faces two to 20 years in prison for each of the two second-degree felony manslaughter charges. Because he has no prior felony convictions, the 25-year-old former backup cornerback would be eligible for probation if the prison sentence was 10 years or less.
According to police reports and court records, Mr. Goodrich was speeding on northbound Interstate 35 after leaving a topless bar. Witnesses said his vehicle did not seem to slow down as he approached the spot where three men were trying to rescue the motorist involved in an earlier accident.
Mr. Goodrich's 2002 BMW 745 veered onto the freeway shoulder and struck the men about 2 a.m. Jan. 14, witnesses said.
Demont Matthews, 23, and Joseph "Joby" Wood, 21, died from injuries they sustained. Shuki Josef, 38, suffered serious injuries.
Mr. Goodrich did not stop. He later told police that he thought he had hit debris. He also told police he didn't stop because he panicked.
The following afternoon, Mr. Goodrich and his attorney met with detectives and submitted a written statement about the crash. He was arrested that evening.
E-mail rtharp@dallasnews.com
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/stories/080803dnmetgoodrich.1076fd03e.html
Dwayne Goodrich
Previously posted articles on this story:
FR Search for Keyword Dwayne Goodrich
ROBERT FLAGG / WFAA-TV
Two men were killed and another injured early Tuesday
by a hit-and-run driver on I-35E.
Above photo from this article:
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