Tomasz Kosowski found guilty of murder after representing himself in death penalty case

Key Points:

• Tomasz Kosowski, a former plastic surgeon, represented himself in a rare death penalty case in Pinellas County, Florida, waiving his right to a jury trial and allowing a judge to decide his guilt and sentence.
• Prosecutors accused Kosowski of murdering lawyer Steven Cozzi in a law office bathroom, with evidence including surveillance footage, DNA linking Kosowski to Cozzi’s blood, and a “murder bag” found in Kosowski’s car.
• Kosowski did not present a defense case but argued in closing that the prosecution failed to prove first-degree murder, highlighting the absence of a body or death certificate and mocking the logistics of the alleged crime.
• The judge found Kosowski guilty and the case moved to the penalty phase, where Kosowski declined legal representation and refused to present mitigating evidence, leaving a court-appointed attorney to advocate for him.
• The case stems from a contentious civil dispute between Kosowski and Cozzi, with prosecutors alleging Kosowski had an obsession with Cozzi and planned the murder months in advance.