Man Confesses Slaying Of Bill Cosby's Son, Ennis, And Drops Appeal

Jet, Feb 26, 2001

The man who killed comedian Bill Cosby's son in 1997 dropped his appeal and admitted his guilt, saying it was time for him to "do the right thing."

In a handwritten letter to Deputy Attorney General Kyle Brodie, Mikhail Markhasev, 22, also apologized to Ennis Cosby's family for what he called a "great wickedness."

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." He also wrote, "I am guilty and I want to do the right thing."

Cosby, 27, was a Columbia University graduate student home for vacation when he was shot to death while changing a flat tire near a Los Angeles freeway ramp in January 1997.

Cosby's family, who was informed of the recent apology, had no comment, said Cosby spokesman Joel Brokaw.

Markhasev, who was convicted in July 1998 and is now serving a life sentence without possibility of parole in California state prison, said he tried to get a message to Cosby's family about a month ago but doesn't believe they received word that he wanted to confess.

"More than anything, I want to apologize to the victim's family," he said. "It is my duty as a Christian and it's the least I can do after the great wickedness for which I'm responsible."

He was convicted in July 1998 and is serving a life sentence without parole.

His appeal, filed in August 1998, was dismissed by the Second District Court in Los Angeles at press time after Markhasev and his attorney abandoned their push to overturn the conviction.