John "Jordan" Lewis, accused of killing Philadelphia Police Officer Chuck Cassidy, this morning withdrew a motion to suppress a confession he made in the Oct. 31, 2007 shooting.
In a Common Pleas courtroom packed with police brass and officers and the slain officer's family, Judge Jeffrey Minehart accepted Lewis' request.
"The decision to withdraw the motion was made by Mr. Lewis rather than counsel," his attorney, Michael Coard, told the judge.
Lewis, 23, reportedly made a confession to Miami police on Nov. 6, 2007. He fled to that city after the shooting.
Lewis, a heavyset man, was led into court shortly after 11:20 a.m. wearing a pair of circular-framed eyeglasses, blue jeans and an oversize brown shirt.
He has been charged with murder, related offenses and six armed robberies.
The final robbery was the one during which Cassidy was gunned down on Halloween morning two years ago. He died the following day.
Jury selection is expected to begin tomorrow and could last until Monday. Minehart said 100 potential jury members would be questioned, including about how they feel about the death penalty.
The District Attorney's office is seeking death for Lewis.
Cassidy, 54, was fatally shot once in the head after walking in on a hold up in progress at the Dunkin' Donuts in West Oak Lane on North Broad Street near 66th Avenue.
Cassidy was doing a routine check of the restaurant because it had been robbed the month before. Lewis pulled that robbery as well, police believe.
Just as he was about to open the front door, an employee told him that a robbery was under way inside.
With a hand on his pistol, Cassidy opened the door; the robber turned and pumped a bullet into the officer's head.
The shooting was captured on black-and-white store surveillance video.
After allegedly shooting Cassidy, Lewis bent down and stole his police-issued revolver, police said.
Cassidy, a police officer for 25 years and a married father of three, died the next day at Albert Einstein Medical Center.
After fleeing on foot, Lewis met up with his cousin, Hakim Glover, who drove him to Delaware and put him on a Greyhound bus to Miami two days after the killing.
Glover has since pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension and obstructing justice. He's expected to be sentenced after Lewis' trial.
Lewis was arrested at a Miami homeless shelter after an employee saw his picture on a television news report.
While being led away by police, Lewis appeared to express remorse to a throng of reporters.
When the reporters asked Lewis if he had admitted to killing Cassidy, he replied: "Yes."
He also told the reporters: "I apologize to his family. I never meant nothing to happen like this, you know, but I can't change, can't change it."
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