LARGO, Fla. (Court TV) — A plastic surgeon charged with first-degree murder said he plans to represent himself when he goes to trial.
Dr. Tomasz Kosowski, 47, is accused of killing Steven Cozzi, 41, whose body was never found after he went missing in March 2023. Cozzi was an attorney representing a client who was suing Kosowski, who was representing himself in the civil case.
During a hearing on Thursday, Kosowski told Pinellas Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone that he also intended to represent himself in his murder trial, which is scheduled to begin on Sept. 14. During the hearing, which was covered by The Tampa Bay Times, Kosowski’s now-former defense attorney Daniel Hernandez stated in an email that Kosowski “refuses to sign consent forms” for a doctor’s evaluation. Co-counsel Jane McNeill confirmed the email to the judge; it also stated that Kosowski did not want evidence presented in his defense and that he wanted to act as his own counsel.
Dr. Tomasz Kosowski representing himself during a hearing in May 2025 (Law&Crime).
Kosowski reportedly told the judge, “It’s true that I don’t want any mitigation or evidence presented in phase two, and it’s true that I don’t want Mr. Hernandez speaking for me and I don’t want Ms. McNeill speaking for me.”
The judge told Kosowski it “doesn’t make any sense for you to ask for that when ultimately what you’re asking for is a life sentence if you’re convicted of first-degree murder.” Kosowski reportedly responded, “It makes sense to me.”
The defendant told the court that he also wants to throw out every motion his previous attorneys have filed on his behalf, many of which addressed ways to exclude the death penalty as an option at sentencing. Kosowski reportedly said the motions were “riddled with inaccuracies” and “most of the motions are not in line with what I want.”
This was not the first time Kosowski had issues with his attorneys. In May 2025, Kosowski’s attorneys withdrew from the case for “ethical reasons,” and the defendant told the court he was still interviewing attorneys to represent him. He said at the time that he did not want to represent himself at trial.
Cozzi was representing one of Kosowski’s former employers in a lawsuit related to billing issues. Around the time Cozzi went missing, Kosowski’s Toyota Tundra pickup truck was seen outside Cozzi’s law firm, police said. Surveillance video captured someone getting out of the truck and going inside with a backpack and gloves while carrying a large box. Two hours later, the same man exited the law office wearing a different outfit and pulling a large cart.
Kosowski was arrested after police executed a search warrant at his office and allegedly found Cozzi’s blood in the office bathroom. Cozzi’s DNA was also allegedly found in the trunk of Kosowski’s vehicle. Police said they found a bag containing brass knuckles, a stun gun, duct tape, masks and syringes with a paralyzing agent, and other sedatives at Kosowski’s home.
Cozzi’s body has never been found.
