Racer’s death back in court quarter-century later (The Associated Press)
Seven years after a former business partner was convicted of killing auto racing great Mickey Thompson and his wife, Trudy, an appeals court is hearing arguments on whether the jury’s verdict should stand. Michael Goodwin was found guilty after a six-week trial in which prosecutors built a circumstantial case that he had hired two hit men to kill the couple in revenge for a soured business deal. The case might have died but for the determination of Thompson’s sister, Collene Campbell, who was convinced Goodwin had arranged the murders. Thompson pursued land-speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, drove everything from dragsters and funny cars to midgets, and he popularized off-road contests.