Cop killing defendant in state of denial

Sullen and obstinate and blindly ignoring questions, Eric DeShann Floyd finally got his time before the jury this morning and denied any involvement in the 2008 killing of Philadelphia police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski and preceding bank robbery.

After a morning of fits and starts in which he got more time to consult with his lawyers, Floyd, 35, took the witness stand about 11:20 a.m. and verbally sparred with his own attorney, Earl G. Kauffman, and then with Assistant District Attorney Jude Conroy.

About 30 minutes later, Common Pleas Court Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes interrupted Conroy and addressed Floyd: "Are you done answering questions?"

"Pretty much," Floyd replied.

"So you are not going to answer any of Mr. Conroy's questions?" asked Hughes.

"Yes, I ain't getting anywhere with it," Floyd said.

And with that Hughes ordered sheriff's deputies to take Floyd back to the holding cell off the courtroom, where he has watched the trial by closed circuit television.

Floyd was barred from court June 9 after he punched another lawyer in his defense team, angry because Hughes denied his request to fire his attorneys and represent himself.

Floyd, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and white Muslim skullcap and identifying himself as "Hashim Yasharahla," was the first and last witness to testify in his defense.

The prosecution case ended Tuesday after three weeks of testimony. Later today, Floyd's codefendant, Levon T. Warner, 41, will announce if he has reconsidered his decision not to testify before his attorneys begin his defense case.

Liczbinski, 39, an officer for 12 years, was shot and killed May 3, 2008, in Port Richmond after stopping behind the getaway car driven by Floyd following the robbery of a bank in a supermarket.

The robbery mastermind who actually shot Liczbinski, Howard Cain, 33, was himself shot and killed by police the same day.

Accomplices Floyd and Warner, who witnesses said passed the assault rifle to Cain that he use to kill Liczbinski, could be sentenced to death if the jury finds them guilty of first-degree murder.