The daughters of tennis ump and accused killer Lois Goodman came to mom’s defense and said there’s no way she could murdered their dad, according to court documents.
Goodman, 70, pleaded not guilty this morning to charges that she fatally bludgeoned her 80-year-old husband to with a coffee mug in Los Angeles.
She had had her bail reduced from $1 million to $500,000 during her arraignment in LA Superior Court. Defense lawyers hope to spring Goodman tomorrow.
The tennis official, arrested last week in New York, is accused of killing husband Alan Goodman on April 17 after telling cops that she found his bloodied and beaten body at home.
“My mother Lois Goodman is the most honest, loving, kind, generous, funny and trustworthy person you could EVER meet,” the couple’s youngest daughter, Allison Goodman Rogers, wrote in a letter to court, pleading for lower bail.
“The death of my father was tragic. I’m sure it was an accident with every core of my being. I’m sure he is rolling over in his grave as he watches my mother suffer through this horrific situation. Our lives will never be the same.”
Sister Joan Goodman also wrote for lowered bail: “My parents were adorable together. He was the yin to her yang.”
“It breaks my heart to see my own mother humiliated and behind bars, accused of something so farfetched and out of character,” the daughter added.
Lois Goodman’s sister, niece, friends and fellow tennis officials all wrote to the court, explaining how their “Lolo” couldn’t have killed her hubby.
She was arrested on Aug. 21 in New York, where was preparing to work the U.S. Open. It was going to be her 13th US Open in row, working as an official.
Defense attorney Alison Triessl insists it’s “physically impossible” that her client could have mustered the strength for such a violent killing.
Goodman claims she suffers from a set of ailments to her knee, shoulder and spine.
“It is physically impossible for her to have done this,” Triessl said.
Goodman has told cops that she found a trail of blood and a broken coffee mug leading to the bedroom of their L.A. home.
But investigators said they believe Lois Goodman is the killer and then coldly went to a nail salon while Alan Goodman bled to death.
“After she committed the crime, she went to get her nails done,” Deputy DA Lisa Tanner said.
The killer fashioned an improvised knife with the busted-up coffee mug.
“It was a very violent and heinous crime,” Tanner said. “He [Alan Goodman] suffered multiple stab-like wounds to the head.”
The blows and jabs were so violent, “some bits of porcelain [from the coffee mug] were found in the victim’s skull,” Tanner added.
Lois Goodman appeared in court, shackled and sporting a standard-issue orange jail jumpsuit
Goodman looked for friendly faces in court and grimaced when she made eye contact, showing her discomfort.
“She’s been very confused. I think she understood the proceedings today,” Triessl said. “I explained to her it might take some time to make bail.”