Attorney: 'Lack Of Blood' Proves Tennis Ref Innocent In Husband's Death
VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — A professional tennis referee accused of bludgeoning her 80-year-old husband to death at their San Fernando Valley home was back in court on Wednesday.
KNX 1070's John Brooks reports Lois Goodman is accused of killing Alan Frederick Goodman with a coffee cup on April 17 at the couple's Woodland Hills home.
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Goodman, 70, had initially told police that her husband had had fallen down the stairs before crawling into bed to explain a blood trail leading to his body and severe wounds on his head.
But a homicide investigation was launched after a coroner's investigator who had been sent to Heritage Crematory on April 20 to sign the death certificate noted multiple cuts on Alan Goodman's head and ears.
Prosecutors have since alleged that Goodman smashed a coffee cup over her husband's head and then stabbed him ten times with the broken handle.
But attorney Robert Sheehan said the LAPD first ruled the death an accident - which is what the defense maintains actually happened.
"We want the notes from the investigators," Sheehan said. "Anybody who went to this scene who saw the lack of blood in various places would know this an accident."
A date was expected to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for Goodman to stand trial, but Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Jessica Silvers postponed the matter until Nov. 8 after attorneys argued that there was a voluminous amount of material to review.
Goodman, who is free on bail after providing a second DNA sample to prosecutors, faces a murder charge with an allegation that she personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon. If convicted, she faces up to life in prison, prosecutors said.
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