MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A hearing this week determined that a Warren man pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his brother and sister-in-law in Livingston County in 2008.
Jerome Kowalski, 79, of Warren, initially pleaded no contest to two counts of open murder and two counts of felony firearm.
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He was initially convicted in 2013, but that conviction was vacated due to misconduct committed by the original trial judge, Theresa Brennan.
Brennan was having an affair with the lead Michigan State Police investigator on the case.
Previous coverage --> Sons of murder convict demand new trial after Livingston County judge’s affair with MSP investigator
In 2023, Judge Matthew Stewart granted Kowalski bond. He served 13 years and eight months in prison from his arrest to the time he was released.
A degree hearing to determine whether Kowalski pleaded no contest to first-degree murder or second-degree murder was held on July 20. During the hearing, the court said Kowalski pleaded no contest to second-degree murder.
“The plea was the product of a Cobbs agreement between Kowalski and the Court," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessell’s office said in October.
A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.