Judge grants public funds to Alexander Kozak, charged in mall shooting

Cedar Rapids - A judge granted public funds to allow Alexander Kozak, accused of shooting and killing a 20-year-old woman at the Coral Ridge Mall in June, to hire an expert to conduct a mental evaluation.

Kozak, who has now hired a private attorney, Alfredo Parrish of Des Moines, recently asked the court to approve an expert to evaluate Kozak's competency, diminished capacity, and intoxication- at the state's expense. In addition to the request for resources, Parrish also provided materials to the court, which had not been made public in this case.

State law allows defendants, even those who hire a lawyer, access to public funds in order to aid in their defense, and judges have discretion whether to grant the funds or not.

Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness, in a response to the request, asked the defense to set up the evaluation as soon as possible so the state can review the evaluation and have time to schedule a state's expert to evaluate Kozak. Lyness said the deadline for pretrial motions is Nov. 6 and a written intent of defense should be filed by that day to prevent delaying the trial.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Christopher Bruns granted Kozak $5,000 to hire an expert at the state's expense. Bruns agreed with the state on the pretrial deadline, and reminded the attorneys that the trial, which has been moved to Story County, has a firm date to begin April 12.

Bruns granted the change of venue to Story County due to extensive pretrial publicity.

A criminal complaint states Kozak, charged with first-degree murder, shot Andrea Farrington three times in the back at close range in the Coral Ridge Mall on June 12. Authorities have provided little details regarding a motive in the case but they have previously said Kozak, who resigned just before the shooting, targeted Farrington, an Iowa Children's Museum employee.

Kozak left the mall in the afternoon on June 12, went back to his condo and retrieved his 9-mm Glock handgun. He then returned to the mall and shot Farrington, who was staffing the mall information desk near the food court. He escaped from the mall but was later found on Interstate 80 in Scott County and taken into custody.