Witness couldn't ID Cosby murder suspect

Police chief: 'It's nothing startling'

April 10, 1997
Web posted at: 11:00 p.m. EST

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Investigators knew before they arrested a suspect in the shooting death of Ennis Cosby that the woman who was their "key witness" had failed to identify the man during a police lineup, Los Angeles Police Chief Willie Williams said Thursday.

"The only thing I will confirm is that the information that was reported regarding the lineup is nothing new, it's nothing startling. It's nothing that has not been known from the time that we made the arrest and the follow-up," Williams said.

The failure of the female witness to pick out 18-year-old Michael Markhasev should not hinder prosecution of the case, Williams said.

Defense lawyer Darren Kavinoky told CNN that his co-counsel, Charles Lindner, was informed by the lawyer who represented Markhasev at the time of the lineup that the woman was unable to pick out Markhasev, and that she actually selected several other people in the lineup.

"This is potentially significant," Kavinoky said.

Markhasev is the only person charged with the slaying of entertainer Bill Cosby's son on January 16.

Bill Cosby's spokesman, David Brokaw, issued a statement Thursday saying, "The Cosbys will not respond to any aspect of the legal proceedings until there is a conviction."

Ennis Cosby was gunned down while apparently changing a tire on a Los Angeles freeway off-ramp.

Police have said the shooting apparently was a random act of violence and have not indicated that they believe anyone else was involved.

Kavinoky complained to CNN that the Los Angeles County district attorney's office has failed to hand over to defense lawyers discovery material in the case.

Kavinoky said he understands the lineup took place sometime prior to when his client was officially charged by the district attorney's office, but he said without the discovery material he can't be 100 percent certain.

At the time of the lineup, Kavinoky pointed out, he was not the lawyer of record.

Related stories:

• Key witness in Cosby killing 'traumatized' - January 17, 1997
• Actor Bill Cosby's son found shot to death - January 16, 1997

Related site:

• Cosby suspect not ID'd in lineup, lawyer says - Los Angeles Times article

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