2 Jurors dismissed, motion for a mistrial; Day 1 of Garden City murder trial wraps up

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A Garden City murder trial was put on a brief stop Tuesday morning as the suspect’s attorney tried to get a mistrial.

The man on trial, Isaiah Goodman, has a well-known dog-fighting case also going through the courts.

Tuesday morning, a woman sat outside the courthouse holding a sign with one of Goodman’s former dogs. We interviewed her Monday. You can watch that here.

His attorney claims it will tamper with the selected jury, seeing her sign and the dog out front.

The judge denied the request, but did excuse a juror.

Isiah Goodman is facing several murder charges for the shooting death of Michael Peguese in 2020. That’s the trial he’s in now.

The forensic pathologist said Michael was shot 5 times that night.

The shooting happened in late June of that year. Five and a half years later, the case has made its way to trial.

Testimony then began with detectives, witnesses and the 911 caller.

Witnesses say they heard multiple shots fired and saw a victim running and stumbling before falling in the street.

Detectives say that as they arrived at the scene, a blue Chevy Impala was driving away.

How detectives identified who was driving is the big question.

“The officers heard the shots, immediately got in their cars and responded to the area,” said Prosecutor Jenny Parker.

The jury was also shown graphic autopsy photos, heard about testing and gunshot residue in the case. Another juror was later dismissed for sleeping.

A Garden City responding officer and a DNA analyst expert wrapped up testimony for the day.

Wednesday testimony will resume at 9:30 am with the rest of the states’ witnesses, including two more officers, two crime lab witnesses, and the surviving victim of the shooting.