Testimony has begun in the trial of a Wellington billionaire, who is accused of driving under the influence and crashing his Bentley into another car, which led to the death of its driver.
A civil settlement has already been reached between John Goodman, 48, the founder of the International Polo Club, and the family of 23-year-old Scott Wilson, who died in the February 2010 incident. The amount of the settlement is confidential.
Goodman still faces a trial on the criminal charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
Jurors have now learned that Goodman's blood-alcohol level was twice the legal driving limit three hours after the crash.
A bartender testified Tuesday that she served vodka, Irish car bombs and tequila that night. She testified that Goodman shared the drinks with several friends and racked up a bar tab of several hundred dollars.
Prosecutors are working to present their argument that Goodman was down on his luck and drunk when his 2007 Bentley hit another car in Palm Beach County, causing it to go into a canal. Wilson was still in the car as it submerged.
"The defendant consumed 16 to 18 drinks," said prosecutor Ellen Roberts. "Mr. Goodman blows that stop sign and slams his Bentley into the side of a Hyundai and literally pushes the little Hyundai into the canal."
The autopsy reports said Wilson drowned.
"Goodman isn't there. He walked away from the scene," Roberts said.
Investigators said Goodman didn't dial 911 for another hour, until after he went to a nearby home a friend convinced him to call.
"He has suffered a Grade III concussion. He is lost. He's disoriented. He's confused. And, he looks around; he sees nothing," said defense attorney Roy Black.
Defense attorneys argued that Goodman's cellphone was dead and that he drank alcohol after the crash to help ease the pain of his injuries.
"At the time of the crash, he was not intoxicated, he was not drunk," said Black.
They also argued that mechanical problems caused the wreck, not negligence.
"Unbeknownst to John Goodman, the throttles that run the fuel into the engine are not working properly," Black said.
A recall was ordered on the make and model of Goodman's 2007 Bentley two years before the crash for fuel-related problems.
If convicted, Goodman faces up to 30 years in prison.