Triple-killer's lawyer says he fears arrest

Convicted murderer Richard Roszkowski, with Attorney Michael Courtney during a pre-trial hearing in Bridgeport Superior Court in 2012 . Convicted murderer Richard Roszkowski, with Attorney Michael Courtney during a pre-trial hearing in Bridgeport Superior Court in 2012 . Photo: Autumn Driscoll, File Photo/Autumn Driscoll Buy photo Photo: Autumn Driscoll, File Photo/Autumn Driscoll Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Triple-killer's lawyer says he fears arrest 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

BRIDGEPORT -- The lawyer for a Trumbull man facing a death penalty trial for the execution-style murders of a local woman, her 9-year-old daughter and a Milford landscaper in 2006, said he fears being arrested before the case can reach a verdict.

Michael Courtney, who is the chief public defender in Danbury, begged a judge to free him from representing 48-year-old Richard Roszkowski on Tuesday as the trial entered the home stretch before a 12-member jury.

"My weekend was ruined because I was worried about being arrested," Courtney told state Superior Court Judge John Blawie. "I can't sleep at night because I don't know what they (the state attorney's office) are going to cook up, and that's not fair to my client."

Courtney said he was concerned he was going to be arrested after it was disclosed in court that he contacted a man who is in witness protection on another case to be a witness for Roszkowski. The unidentified witness previously had a prison cell adjoining Roszkowski's.

State's Attorney John Smriga told the judge that he has seen no evidence at this time that would warrant Courtney being charged, but refused to grant the lawyer immunity from prosecution for anything else that might arise in the case.

"I'm ordering you, Mr. Courtney, to continue to represent Mr. Roszkowski," the judge said.

In the meantime, Courtney has hired a lawyer.

Both the defense lawyers and the prosecutors have agreed not to talk to the media while the case is pending.

In May 2009, a Bridgeport jury found Roszkowski guilty of two counts of capital felony, three counts of murder and one count of criminal possession of a firearm for the Sept. 7, 2006, shooting deaths of 39-year-old Holly Flannery, her daughter, Kylie, and 38-year-old Thomas Gaudet.

Although the same jury that convicted Roszkowski subsequently found he should get the death penalty, a judge later overturned the death penalty verdict because the jury had been given a faulty instruction, and a new penalty hearing was ordered.

There have been numerous twists and turns in the case since the death penalty trial began in January. The Polish government filed a written objection to Roszkowski getting the death penalty; although he was born in the U.S., the Polish government says they consider him a citizen of their country, which has eliminated the death penalty.

Courtney has previously asked to be let out of the case, contending he does not have a good relationship with his client.

Roszkowski, a former lover of Flannery, shot her and Gaudet each once in the head on Seaview Avenue. Witnesses said Flannery begged, "Don't do it in front of my daughter," as Roszkowski held her in a headlock and put the gun to the back of her head.

He then chased the girl down the street, shooting her in the back of the thigh, in the face and finally the side of the head at close range as she begged for her life.

The Connecticut General Assembly has eliminated the death penalty for any new murder cases.

dtepfer@ctpost.com; 203-330-6308; http://twitter.com/dantepfer