Video above: Plastic surgeon charged with murder is still without legal representation
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tomasz Kosowski, a Pinellas County plastic surgeon accused of murdering a lawyer involved in a lawsuit against him, may face losing his legal counsel again in his capital murder case.
Two weeks ago, a judge assigned Kosowski’s case to a public defender after his original defense team resigned because he accused them of fraud, forgery, and other misconduct.
Last week, the Office of the Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel filed a motion to withdraw from the case, citing a conflict of interest. The Regional Counsel had previously represented a person identified by the prosecution as a witness.
The office did not name the witness or provide any additional information about the conflict of interest, citing attorney-client privilege.
In March 2023, Steven Cozzi, who represented defendants in a lawsuit Kosowski filed over a medical billing dispute, was working in his office at Blanchard Law in Largo. The attorney went to the bathroom and was never seen again, leaving his keys, wallet, phone, laptop and tablet behind in the office.
Traces of what police believe to be blood were found in the bathroom. DNA analysis found the blood belonged to Cozzi, according to police.
Police allege that Kosowski killed Cozzi and moved the body to his home in Tarpon Springs. Analysis of evidence found on Kosowski’s garage floor turned up a mixture of the suspect’s DNA and the victim’s blood, court documents state.
“A substantial amount of blood” was also discovered in Kosowski’s car, along with a bag containing masks, a taser, brass knuckles, duct tape and intravenous sedative medications, the criminal complaint alleged. His fingerprint was also discovered at the crime scene, according to police.
Prosecutors allege Kosowski then drove to rural Collier County to dispose of the body. A garbage truck operator reported a foul smell coming from a dumpster, where surveillance video showed a large bag “consistent with a human body” falling into the truck, according to court documents.
By the time investigators connected the dumpster to the alleged murder, it was too late. Police believe Cozzi’s body was destroyed by a trash compactor, and his remains were never found.
Court documents also detail a tense encounter between Kosowski and Cozzi that happened in the same law office bathroom prior to his disappearance. While taking a break from a meeting about the contentious civil lawsuit proceedings, Kosowski reportedly called Cozzi a “scumbag.”
Kosowski has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces the death penalty. He is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on June 25.
