Trial Begins for Former Plastic Surgeon Accused of Murdering Pinellas County Attorney

A former plastic surgeon is facing a first-degree murder trial overseen entirely by a judge rather than a jury, with a potential sentence of the death penalty upon conviction.

• •The trial for former plastic surgeon Tomasz Kosowski begins on Monday.
• •Kosowski is charged with first-degree murder in the 2023 death of Pinellas County attorney Steven Cozzi.
• •Kosowski waived his right to a jury trial, resulting in a bench trial where a judge decides the outcome.
• •Kosowski waived his right to a jury trial for both the guilt and penalty phases.
• •Kosowski is expected to represent himself in court after parting ways with multiple defense attorneys.
• •If convicted, Kosowski could face the death penalty, with the sentence determined by the judge.
• •Steven Cozzi disappeared from his law firm in Largo in March 2023 while representing defendants in a lawsuit involving Kosowski.
• •Investigators state security footage showed a man wearing gloves and carrying items into the building around the time of the disappearance, and large amounts of blood were found in the office building bathroom.