Bail Denied for Chicago Lawyer in Double Slaying

Sophia Tareen

The Associated Press

February 24, 2009

The attorney accused of killing New York Knicks player Eddy Curry's ex-girlfriend and her infant daughter was an abusive, controlling boyfriend who disputed $23,500 in legal fees with his victim, prosecutors alleged Monday.

Fredrick Goings, 36, is charged with first-degree murder in the Jan. 24 slayings of 24-year-old Nova Henry and her 10-month-old daughter, Ava. Both died of multiple gunshot wounds.

A Cook County, Ill., judge denied bail at a hearing Monday where prosecutors said Goings and Henry became romantically involved after he represented her in a paternity case with Curry, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney John Dillon.

Goings "became abusive" and Henry tried to end their romantic relationship, prosecutors alleged.

"He refused to let it end," Dillon said. "Friends and family related that he had intended to kill her on more than one occasion."

Henry filed an order of protection against Goings in April 2007, but later dropped the case.

The couple had lived together, but Henry moved out in December last year and into a South Side town house with her two children, Noah, whose father is Curry, and Ava, whose paternity has been under dispute. The Chicago Tribune has reported that records show DNA tests prove Curry is the father. Curry's attorney did not immediately return a message Monday.

In court prosecutors called the baby Ava Curry Henry and later said they believe she was Curry's daughter. Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said Monday that Curry had no comment.

Goings, wearing dress pants and a black leather jacket, did not comment at the hearing Monday.

In court, attorney John Lyke said his client is a lifelong Chicagoan, practicing attorney and a single parent.

Lyke declined to discuss any details of the case or his client.

"He maintains his innocence," Lyke said.

Henry let Goings into the apartment on the afternoon of Jan. 24 and neighbors heard arguing, prosecutors said. Around 1:30 p.m., neighbors reported hearing gunshots, Dillon said.

An autopsy showed Nova Henry was shot six times with wounds to the head, lower back, leg, arms and graze wound to the chest. The baby had been shot twice, to the front and back of the head.

Surveillance video from the apartment showed Goings' black Range Rover parked near Henry's apartment, prosecutors said.

Investigators also found that Henry's laptop had been used to access Goings' Yahoo e-mail account and a file related to a dispute over legal fees Goings charged her had been downloaded.

There was no sign of forced entry, burglary, robbery or sexual assault, prosecutors said.

Authorities used cell phone towers to determine Goings' phone was in the area of Henry's apartment around the time of the killings, prosecutors said. They tracked the phone into Indiana where they found Goings' Range Rover in the parking lot of a Comfort Inn in LaPorte County.

In the vehicle, authorities found a bullet matching the caliber and manufacturer as fired shell cases recovered from Henry's apartment. The bullets came from the same type of gun registered to Goings, Dillon said.

That gun has not been recovered, authorities said.

Gunpowder residue was also found on Goings' sleeve, Dillon said.

Goings has four battery convictions, including one in California, prosecutors said. The most recent conviction in Illinois dates back to 1998.

Goings has been authorized to practice law in Illinois since 2005, according to state records.

His law license was still valid, said Jeff Grogan, a spokesman for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Until the Illinois Supreme Court takes action, Goings will likely have a valid law license.

Citing confidentiality laws, Grogan was not able to say if his agency had started an investigation after Goings was charged with murder Sunday.

"We do monitor criminal proceedings against lawyers," he said. "If they're convicted, we do proceed against them."