WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A nurse who treated West Palm Beach billionaire John Goodman took the stand Friday in the DUI manslaughter trial against him.
Nurse Cecilia Betts examined Goodman in a hospital room on the February 2010 night police said he was driving his Bentley drunk and speeding and blew a stop sign, crashing into a Hyundai and sending it into a canal. The driver of the Hyundai, 23-year-old Scott Wilson, drowned, according to an autopsy.
Prosecutors said Goodman driving drunk at the time of the crash and did not call 911 until an hour later. His defense team claims that Goodman's car malfunctioned and that he was disoriented, confused and suffering from a concussion after the crash.
When asked whether Goodman complained of head pain that night, Betts said, "No, he has not."
"He did not appear in severe pain," she said.
Hospital notes showed Goodman had a fractured wrist and a bump on his head, but otherwise showed no sign of a concussion or of being confused, as his attorneys claimed he was.
Goodman's blood was tested, and his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit three hours after the crash, according to police.
This week, jurors heard a 911 call Goodman made an hour after the crash. Police said Goodman walked away from the scene of the crash and went to a nearby trailer. He claimed his cellphone was dead.
"The significance of the boot prints that came from the driver side of the black Bentley, and were able to follow those to the point or area where Mr. Goodman was located," said Deputy Robert Stephen, of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
The trail led detectives to the trailer. Goodman was picked up for questioning that night. Police said hospital staff said they noticed the odor of alcohol on his breath.
"Alcohol, but I did not put it in my nurse's notes," Betts said.
Betts said she did not put it in her nurse's notes because she would be nervous to testify in what would be a DUI manslaughter case.
Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case Friday afternoon.