CLEARWATER, Fla. (Court TV) — After days of sitting silently, a plastic surgeon representing himself in a murder trial objected Thursday, but was quickly overruled.
Tomasz Kosowski appears in court on Sept. 17, 2026. (Court TV)
Tomasz Kosowski, 47, an Ivy League-trained doctor, is charged with first-degree murder and faces a potential death sentence if he’s convicted of killing attorney Steven Cozzi. Kosowski waived his rights to both an attorney and a jury, leaving his fate in Judge Joseph Bulone’s hands.
Kosowski spent the first three days of his trial mostly silent, sitting with his head propped on his arm. Before Thursday, he had not cross-examined any witnesses extensively, though he did ask Assistant State Attorney Nathan Vonderheide to step into a trash bag on Wednesday to prove its capacity.
The defendant was more engaged in the trial on Thursday, asking questions of the forensic scientist who testified that DNA found in the bathroom at Cozzi’s law office matched both the victim and the defendant. He also asked Bulone if it would be possible to get a transcript of a previous witness’s testimony, saying, “There was something that struck me as important.”
When prosecutors went to introduce an exhibit—a PowerPoint showing different patterns of bloodstains—Kosowski objected and said he’d never seen the proposed display.
Kosowski: “Is there any personal, like, details of the case on this PowerPoint?”
Prosecutor: “Not on this one, but there will be a PowerPoint that I’m going to offer into evidence that was also discovered to you that does have details of this case, photographs.”
Kosowski: “Again, I’m sorry. I haven’t seen any PowerPoints at all. We just don’t have PowerPoint at the jail.”
Bulone overruled the objection after prosecutors handed Kosowski a printed version of the PowerPoint.
Witnesses who worked in Cozzi’s law office have testified that the law office’s bathroom was covered in blood and smelled strongly of bleach and isopropyl alcohol when they first discovered the scene after the victim disappeared. Investigators said the blood found in the bathroom matched Cozzi’s DNA, and Kosowski’s DNA was found on the bathroom door.
Prosecutors allege that after he killed Cozzi in the bathroom, Kosowski used a wagon to carry the victim to a truck and then eventually tossed the body into a dumpster. Cozzi’s body has never been found, despite an extensive search of the Collier County landfill, where investigators said they believe Kosowski deposited his remains.
