Admitted cop-killer begs for leniency

CLEARWATER (FOX 13) - A man who shot and killed a Tarpon Springs Police Officer, took the stand in tears, -- begging a jury to give him life in prison instead of the death penalty. 

Marco Parilla pleaded guilty to killing officer Charles Kondek in late 2014, when Kondek confronted him over a noise complaint.

Thursday, Parilla addressed a jury and family members of the police officer he killed tearfully asking for life in prison instead of the death penalty.

 
Parillia, who has a long rap sheet, was out on parole at the time of the murder and later told deputies he gunned down Kondek, and ran him over as he fled because he didn’t want to go back to prison.

Parilla’s attorneys hoping for a sympathetic jury, saying drug use and brain damage from a physically abusive childhood affected Parilla’s decision making that day.

His attorneys have to sway one of twelve jurors and he gets life in prison over the death penalty.

The jury is set to deliberate Friday.