According to the Orlando Sentinel, a motion filed Wednesday with the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach, has Goodman’s attorneys arguing that former Assistant State Attorney Ellen Roberts tainted his trial and there are grounds for a hearing in Palm Beach County Circuit Court to revisit the whole case.
Goodman’s attorneys are now asking a judge to vacate Goodman’s conviction and 16-year prison sentence, or grant a new trial because of Roberts’ apparent conflict of interest, according to the Sentinel.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that as a result of a review of Roberts’ work emails, “Goodman’s attorneys claim that Roberts reached out to Scott Smith, attorney for William Wilson: First, for his political connections concerning her application to become interim Palm Beach County state attorney; and second, for a job in Smith’s law firm after her retirement.”
“In return, Roberts is accused of offering Smith a “direct pipeline” to the prosecution of Goodman that aided the Wilson family’s civil lawsuit against Goodman, the founder of International Polo Club Palm Beach and heir to a Texas manufacturing fortune,” the Orlando Sentinel said.
Goodman, 49, has been on house arrest at his Wellington mansion while out on a separate appeal.
To read more about the incident, click here.
