Day 2 of testimony wraps in Garden City murder trial, Day 3 begins with closing arguments

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - It was day two of testimony in a Garden City murder trial on Wednesday.

After years of delays, jurors got a firsthand look at the night of the shooting — including testimony from the survivor. They also saw some other key evidence in the case.

Wednesday, a man testified about surviving that shooting in Garden City back in 2020 on Oak Street.

Richard Dobson told jurors he was in the area, admittedly buying drugs and drinking, when a stranger asked him for a ride — Michael Peguese, the victim in the trial.

Dobson says he didn’t know Peguese, but agreed.

He says they pulled up to Dobson’s friends’ home, and Michael then walked off down the road.

Dodson says he went to buy cocaine from the defendant, Isaiah Goodman. About an hour later, while sitting in his truck, he said he heard four gunshots — and realized he had been shot through the door.

“Do u know the person that shot you? Yes. Who is it? The defendant,” said the surviving victim, Richard Dobson.

The defense noted inconsistencies in some of his past statements.

GBI agents testified about gunshot residue on the driver’s side door of his car-- Goodman’s lawyer argued there was no way to know when it got there.

Jurors saw dash-cam footage of the police chase that night of a blue Chevy Impala leaving the scene.

The lead detective says when he first saw the footage, ‘he was like a kid in a candy store,’ recognizing Goodman immediately as the driver.

Goodman’s attorney also asked for a directed verdict, claiming the jury didn’t have enough evidence to decide the case — and that the judge should. The judge denied the request.

Both sides rested and began closing arguments Thursday morning.