By Tom Tracy
When all else fails, claim you’re crazy. That appears to be the strategy of road rage suspect Jonathan Goody, who, just last week, changed his not guilty plea to not guilty by reason of mental disease, according to sources at the Kings County District Attorney’s office. The change in tactics come just as a trial date was going to be set and attempts by Goody’s attorney to get a plea deal had fallen upon deaf ears. Goody, a security guard from Neptune Avenue, will now have to be given a psychological evaluation to determine if his defense could be admissible in court. Prosecutors are charging him with brutally beating 28-year-old Bay Ridge musician Johnny Philippidis during what police are calling a road rage attack. Detectives allege that Goody and Philippidis were involved in a small accident on a BQE exit ramp near 65th Street at about 12:30 a.m. on November 16, 2005. Philippidis, friends said, was coming home from a late-night recording session. The two reportedly got out of their cars and started arguing. As the dispute continued, Goody went ballistic, pulled a baseball bat out of his car and attacked, hitting Philippidis in the head repeatedly, officials allege. Goody’s car, a 2005 Cadillac, was seen speeding away from the scene. Cops arrested Goody a few hours after the attack. He later confessed. Friends and family described Philippidis – lovingly known as Johnny Rockstar — as a friendly, easy-going young man who would not pick a fight over something as minor as a fender bender. The aspiring guitar player had just played with famed pop star Ryan Cabrera, family members said. Doctors at Lutheran Medical Center told prosecutors that Philippidis, who was originally listed in critical condition, suffered “multiple bone fractures about the face, nose and eye socket.” Prosecutors were told that Philippidis lost a number of teeth during the encounter, as well as suffered “swelling in the brain and blood in the lungs and chest cavity.” After undergoing multiple surgeries, Philippidis remains disfigured and suffers from vision problems. Calls to Goody’s attorney were not returned as this paper went to press.
