CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFTS) — A judge found Tomasz Kosowski, a Tarpon Springs plastic surgeon on trial for murder, guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday in Pinellas County.
Tampa Bay 28's Maya Sargent was in the courtroom on Sept. 23 during closing arguments. Sargent said the State is still seeking the death penalty.
PREVIOUS REPORTING
The State rested its case in the murder trial against Kosowski on Tuesday, wrapping up its argument connecting him to the death of Largo attorney Steven Cozzi.
Among the final witnesses called by the State was a forensic accountant who testified that Cozzi's regular payments at Publix and Dunkin' Donuts stopped after March 21 — the day of the alleged murder.
"It's my opinion that something happened, an unplanned event occurred," said forensic accountant Tiffany Gorman.
Watch report from Maya Sargent
The District 6 Medical Examiner also spoke to video and photos the State alleges show Cozzi's dead body in the back of Kosowski's Toyota Tundra.
"The body's clearly in a different position, but this would be, if you sit in the car, any person, head, right knee, it looks like a body to me," said Jon Thogmartin, District 6 Medical Examiner.
The State's theory alleges that Kosowski transported Cozzi's body from the Blanchard Law Firm using a Gorilla cart and eventually dumped the body in a South Florida dumpster.
Kosowski pushed back against testimony and evidence throughout the day, including during a cross-examination of the lead detective in the case that stunned the courtroom.
"Would you be willing to help in a demonstration?" Kosowski asked the Largo Police former Detective, Colin Bolton.
Kosowski then proposed that a volunteer weighing approximately 190 to 195 pounds get into the cart and that the detective lift the cart and person onto a desk.
"He's telling you I committed murder, he's trying to kill me for it, that is their theory, the least, the least, that they have to do is to show me that this is plausible," Kosowski said.
Kosowski also made additional demonstration requests to the medical examiner.
No demonstrations took place in the courtroom. The Judge did not mandate any and the State did not entertain Kosowski's request.
Closing arguments will take place on Wednesday.
The detective declined.
No demonstrations took place inside the courtroom. The state did not participate in the requests, and the judge did not mandate them.
The trial is set to return to court for closing arguments Wednesday morning.
PAST TRIAL COVERAGE:
- Day 1: Murder trial for Tarpon Springs plastic surgeon accused in death of Largo attorney underway
- Day 2: Surveillance footage, trucks and carts: State focuses trial on Kosowski's alleged movements after murder
- Day 3: Forensic experts testify about evidence in murder trial against Tarpon Springs plastic surgeon
- Day 4: Kosowski cross-examines witnesses for first time as murder trial enters Day 4 in Pinellas County
- Day 5: Landfill search, paralysis drug search, and cell phone records highlighted in day 5 of Kosowski murder trial
'My heart breaks': Woman describes helping injured students after deadly school bus crash in Polk County
A woman on her way to work Monday morning found herself helping injured Winter Haven High School students after a school bus crash that killed two people.
