Cosby Judge Names New Defense

Amid new reports of witnesses in the slaying of Ennis Cosby, a Los Angeles judge Thursday appointed two public defenders to represent Cosby’s accused killer after the 18-year-old’s attorneys said their client could not afford them for the duration of a trial.

In agreeing to the change in attorneys, Superior Court Judge John Reid also delayed the arraignment of Mikail “Michael” Markhasev until May 13, when a grand jury indictment against him may be unsealed.

Markhasevhas pleaded not guilty to charges that he shot and killed the 27-year-old son of entertainer Bill Cosby on Jan. 16. The body of the younger Cosby, apparently slain during a bungled robbery attempt, was found alongside his Mercedes-Benz.

Reid appointed two veteran criminal defense attorneys Henry Hall and Harriett Hawkins, both of the Alternate Public Defenders Office, to represent Markhasev.

The change in attorneys came only hours after the latest news reports on alleged evidence in the case. Several news outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, reported Thursday that a young man and woman have told authorities that they were with Markhasev at the time of the shooting. The pair were both arrested with Markhasev in March but released within hours.

In addition, two other witnesses have told authorities that they helped Markhasev unsuccessfully attempt to recover the gun used to kill Cosby.