Cop killer pleads for his life

Hours after Rasheed Scruggs surprisingly admitted Thursday that he murdered police Officer John Pawlowski, his defense attorney pleaded for his client’s life. David Rudenstein cited drug use, desperation over providing for his children and taking responsibility for his actions as mitigating factors.

“He’s still a human being,” Rudenstein said as the first-degree-murder penalty phase commenced. “The only thing we’re asking for is to put him in a cell and throw away the key.”