Mikhail Markhasev (murderer)

Mikhail "Michael" Markhasev (born c. 1979) is a Ukrainian-born refugee legally residing in the United States. He is responsible for the murder of Ennis Cosby, the only son of actor and comedian Bill Cosby. The crime took place during the early morning of January 16, 1997 in the Bel Air discrict of Los Angeles. During an attempted robbery, Markhasev fatally shot Cosby, who was fixing a flat tire near a freeway off-ramp. Cosby was shot in the head. On July 7, 1998, Markhasev was convicted of first-degree murder of Cosby and attempted robbery. In February 2001, Markhasev officially confessed to Cosby's murder in a handwritten letter, admitting full responsibility of the crime he committed. He is currently serving a life sentence at Corcoran State Prison.

Biography

Personal life

Markhasev and his family are from the Russian-speaking part of Ukraine, which was then part of the Soviet Union. Marhasev was eight years old when his mother and father divorced. In 1989, when he was either 9 or 10, Markhasev and his mother, Vicktoria Gorenshtein Markhasev, moved from Lvov to Los Angeles. Markhasev entered the United States legally as a refugee and is not an American citizen.

He first attended Gardner Street Elementary School. Then he attended John Burroughs Middle School and McAuliffe Middle School. Between August 1991 and June 1992 he was enrolled in a program for gifted children while in middle school. For high school, he first attended Los Alamitos High School. Then he attended for a few months at Reseda High School, where he was in the college prep program. He dropped out and never returned to Reseda High to serve a six-month stint in Los Pinos Juvenile Detention Center for an offense authorities have declined to reveal. In addition, Reseda High transferred Markhasev's records to Los Pinos High School.

While at school, Markhasev was referred to as "Skippy" by students who liked him. Markhasev once had a girlfriend by the name of Maggie. He also dated Joy Williams for two months while they were both freshmen. Williams, who is African-American, has denied reports that Markhasev was racist (Markhasev is alleged to have said, "I shot the nigger").

Markhasev is said to have been a member of a Mexican Mafia prison gang. In addition, he went by the street name, "PWee."

Murder of Ennis Cosby

Main article: Murder of Ennis Cosby

On March 12, 1997, Markhasev was officially arrested as a suspect of Cosby's murder. Markhasev pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and paid a $50 fine just hours before his arrest. On both March 28 and May 13 of 1997, Markhasev pleaded not guilty of murdering Cosby. On May 30, 1997, it was decided that Markhasev would not face the death penalty if convicted, a decision accepted by Ennis's parents Bill & Camille Cosby.

Trial, conviction and imprisonment

Markhasev's defense attorneys argued that the real killer was Eli Zakaria, who was with Marhasev when Cosby was murdered. In addition, Stephanie Crane, who said she saw the face of Cosby's killer, testified that she did not identify Markhasev as the culprit. It was also revealed that the gun that was used had no prints on it.

Markhasev's mother, Vicktoria, testified an alibi that her son was at home on January 15, 1997, and the early morning of January 16, helping her pack for her move to a new apartment. She said her son also was at home when she left for work the next morning. An unidentified 19-year-old testified another alibi that Markhasev was with him and another teen, staying in Tijuana from January 15 until January 19 or 20.

Prosecutor Anne Ingalls told the jury that Markhasev confessed to the crime to his friend, Michael Chang, who refused to testify.

On July 7, 1998, Markhasev was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Ennis Cosby and attempted robbery. On August 11, 1998, Markhasev was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Markhasev is serving his sentence at Corcoran State Prison.

In February 2001, Markhasev wrote a letter to California Deputy Attorney General Kyle Brody, admitting that he murdered Cosby and added an official apology to the Cosby family. Markhasev wrote:

Although my appeal is in its beginning stages, I don't want to continue with it because it's based on falsehood and deceit. I am guilty, and I want to do the right thing. More than anything, I want to apologize to the victim's family. It is my duty as a Christian, and it's the least I can do, after the great wickedness for which I am responsible. This is way overdue, and although my apology is too late, it's still the right thing to do. This is not about me, but about those whose lives I've marred. My motive is to at least try to mend the things which I've destroyed.

— Mikhail Markhasev, February 2001