Convicted Cop Killer Says He's Innocent, Blames Lawyer For Verdict

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Leslie Mollett, 42, is serving life without parole after being convicted of shooting and killing Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Joseph Pokorny in December of 2005.

It happened near the parking lot of the Extended Stay America Hotel in Carnegie off the Parkway West. Testimony indicated that Pokorny gave chase as Mollet sped down the parkway. The two confronted each other in the parking lot, there was a struggle and the testimony indicated Mollet shot Pokorny three times with the trooper's gun.

Mollet now claims he wasn't the gunman and he's blaming his former attorney John Elash for providing inadequate counsel.

In a petition to the court, Mollet claims Elash "interfered with (his) desire to testify."

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Mollett also claims Elash "failed to object to the extensive uniformed state trooper presence in the courtroom."

Finally he argues Elash failed to argue that Mollett was "maced in the face...unable to see to shoot trooper Pokorny."

Mollett took the stand for a few moments Thursday morning and claimed attorney Elash had a heated discussion with him and told him he shouldn't testify, even though he said he wanted to.

But it was pointed out that during his trial, Mollett stood before the judge and waived his right to testify.

The jury in Mollett's case failed to sentence him to the death penalty. If he's granted a new trial, Mollett could face the death penalty again.

No word on when the judge might rule on his appeal.