Neither judge nor lawyer can talk sense into Floyd

The murder trial of police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski is likely to reach a climax today as one of the men accused in the case, Eric Floyd, takes the stand in his defense — against the advice of his lawyer and the judge.

With Floyd’s decision to testify, prosecutors will be allowed to present his prior record, including an alleged carjacking and other crimes, which had previously been inadmissible. Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes asked the reticent Floyd several times if he understood that his record could be presented.

“For all the things you want to tell this jury, there are a lot of things you may not want them to find out about,” Hughes said, adding that the evidence may not show him “in the best light.”

Floyd responded, “I just wanna say what I need to say because he didn’t” in referring to defense attorney Earl Kauffman.

Floyd, who has watched the proceedings from a holding cell since punching court-appointed attorney William Bowe last month, is facing first-degree murder, along with Levon Warner, for the death of Liczbinski in May 2008 following a bank robbery in Port Richmond. The triggerman, Howard Cain, was killed by police later that day.

Floyd and Warner could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder.