The Trial of Harlow Cuadra Begins

[BigK]

Well this should be interesting. He sounds guilty as sin. Posted on Jason Sechrest on 2/24.

http://www.jasoncurious.com/desk/index.html

The Trial of Harlow Cuadra Begins

Opening statements were made this morning in the trial of porn star and escort Harlow Cuadra, 24, accused of murdering 44 year old Cobra Video owner Bryan Kocis.

The prosecution's opening statement from Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick lasted for one hour and twenty-four minutes this morning, painting Cuadra as the cold-blooded killer of Koics, seeking to eliminate the gay porn producer as a competitor.

Cuadra's mother, seated in the front row of the courtroom, cried as the prosecution described how Kocis died, being nearly decapitated in one fell swoop and stabbed 28 times, while Cuadra himself wrote notes in a yellow legal pad. Melnick said a knife used in the killing plus a rental car to get to the home of Kocis can be traced directly back to Harlow Cuadra and also cited telephone, cell phone and computer records as more evidence against him that will be seen during the trial.

Menawhile defense attorney Joseph D'Andrea's opening statement was only fifteen minutes in length as he summed up that Harlow Cuadra is innocent in the killing of Bryan Kocis and cites three other possible killers. D'Andrea claims he will prove Sean Lockhart better known as porn star Brent Corrigan, his partner Grant Roy and Cuadra's own partner, Joseph Kerekes (who plead guilty to second-degree murder in the case earlier this year and is sentenced to life in prison) all had the motive and ability to kill Kocis.

"Our defense is simple," D'Andrea stated before jurors. "Harlow didn't do it. This young man did not slash anyone's throat, stab 28 times or set his house on fire. ... You'll hear testimony that Grant Roy and Sean Lockhart hated Bryan Kocis, they even wanted him dead."

D'Andrea described Kerekes, Cuadra's professed first love and only boyfriend, as being dominant and controlling over his client, alleging Cuadra was under his spell and control. "[Kerekes] was prostituting his lover Harlow to make money. It was money that motivated Joseph Kerekes. Harlow sits here innocent and he has the protection of innocence throughout this trial."

News footage shortly following the arrest of Cuadra was featured recently on the here! TV program, "Everything You Wanted To Know About Gay Porn Stars (*But Were Afraid To Ask)." One of the most chilling moments features reporters asking Cuadra, being led in handcuffs, if he committed the murder of Bryan Kocis.

"I didn't do it," he responded.

When asked by a reporter if he knew who did, he responded, "Ask Sean and Grant."

Melnick also read in his opening statement today from the infamous wiretapped conversations Cuadra allegedly had with Corrigan and Roy in April 2007 at a nude beach in San Diego. Melnick read Cuadra's quote, "It was quick. He never saw it coming. Actually, seeing him going down, made me feel better inside."

posted by Jason Sechrest at 12:01 PM

[Guest eastburbguy]

Very sad. I've followed this case from the beginning, and Harlow is looking at a likely death sentence following his almost certain conviction. Cuadra and Kerekes had the makings of a major porn/sex empire and, IMO, they were very good at what they did. (I'm talking about the porn part - I never had a chance to sample the sex part - LOL).

Well this should be interesting. He sounds guilty as sin. Posted on Jason Sechrest on 2/24.

http://www.jasoncurious.com/desk/index.html

The Trial of Harlow Cuadra Begins

Opening statements were made this morning in the trial of porn star and escort Harlow Cuadra, 24, accused of murdering 44 year old Cobra Video owner Bryan Kocis.

The prosecution's opening statement from Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick lasted for one hour and twenty-four minutes this morning, painting Cuadra as the cold-blooded killer of Koics, seeking to eliminate the gay porn producer as a competitor.

Cuadra's mother, seated in the front row of the courtroom, cried as the prosecution described how Kocis died, being nearly decapitated in one fell swoop and stabbed 28 times, while Cuadra himself wrote notes in a yellow legal pad. Melnick said a knife used in the killing plus a rental car to get to the home of Kocis can be traced directly back to Harlow Cuadra and also cited telephone, cell phone and computer records as more evidence against him that will be seen during the trial.

Menawhile defense attorney Joseph D'Andrea's opening statement was only fifteen minutes in length as he summed up that Harlow Cuadra is innocent in the killing of Bryan Kocis and cites three other possible killers. D'Andrea claims he will prove Sean Lockhart better known as porn star Brent Corrigan, his partner Grant Roy and Cuadra's own partner, Joseph Kerekes (who plead guilty to second-degree murder in the case earlier this year and is sentenced to life in prison) all had the motive and ability to kill Kocis.

"Our defense is simple," D'Andrea stated before jurors. "Harlow didn't do it. This young man did not slash anyone's throat, stab 28 times or set his house on fire. ... You'll hear testimony that Grant Roy and Sean Lockhart hated Bryan Kocis, they even wanted him dead."

D'Andrea described Kerekes, Cuadra's professed first love and only boyfriend, as being dominant and controlling over his client, alleging Cuadra was under his spell and control. "[Kerekes] was prostituting his lover Harlow to make money. It was money that motivated Joseph Kerekes. Harlow sits here innocent and he has the protection of innocence throughout this trial."

News footage shortly following the arrest of Cuadra was featured recently on the here! TV program, "Everything You Wanted To Know About Gay Porn Stars (*But Were Afraid To Ask)." One of the most chilling moments features reporters asking Cuadra, being led in handcuffs, if he committed the murder of Bryan Kocis.

"I didn't do it," he responded.

When asked by a reporter if he knew who did, he responded, "Ask Sean and Grant."

Melnick also read in his opening statement today from the infamous wiretapped conversations Cuadra allegedly had with Corrigan and Roy in April 2007 at a nude beach in San Diego. Melnick read Cuadra's quote, "It was quick. He never saw it coming. Actually, seeing him going down, made me feel better inside."

posted by Jason Sechrest at 12:01 PM

[Guest mineallmine]

I have followed the case as well. Not as closely possibly but it will be very interesting to see the out come. I wonder how the under the domination of his boyfriend will play out and wether they will try to go for some sort of insanity type plea if the idea of reasonable doubt doesnt play out.

[caeron]

I think it's pretty open and shut. Harlow should have begged to cut a deal before his partner did. They have plenty enough to convict, and he can make excuses 'til the cows come home and it won't change the verdict.

[TampaYankee]

Very sad. I've followed this case from the beginning, and Harlow is looking at a likely death sentence following his almost certain conviction.

I'm quite conflicted about the death penalty, in general. My gut says: an eye for an eye in the absence of extenuating circumstances. My concern is that the correct eye is forfeited. Better the guilty see than the innocent be made blind. However, in this case it seems they have their man.

[Lucky]

I am for the death penalty when it is given to the person who is really guilty of a heinous crime and when it is administered within a reasonable time following the conviction. They seem to be having trouble finding a means to enact the penalty that is not painful to the recipient. I think studies show that the firing squad is the most effective and least painful way, so for all of those cruel people who like to kill children, torture, or commit mass murders, I favor the firing squad. Otherwise, it's on a case by case basis.

[Guest FourAces]

I think that Sean Lockhart is far more involved than has been made public. Possibly the current trial will bring this to light.

[BigK]

I think that Sean Lockhart is far more involved than has been made public. Possibly the current trial will bring this to light.

Sean Lockhart posted on his Brent Corrigan blog that he flew back from the trial on Saturday the 28th. He had gone there to give testimony. So as witness for the prosecution it doesn't seem like has been found to be more involved. Maybe he just outsmarted Harlow, but that's not what I've been hearing.

[Guest zachary]

well, after the murder he went to a lawyer who supposedly told him not to get involved, and then on his own, to the police, who set up the wire for a meeting of him, his bf and the two charged in the killings. on the nude beach, the cuadra (i think this right) said it went quick.

so whatever his involvement before, the prosecution is relying on his testimony and tapes. this is from the news reports of the trial.

[Guest zachary]

Escort Client Testifies, excerpt

http://handjtrial.blogspot.com/2009/03/har...rial-day-8.html

9:57 AM: According to the Times Leader, Less than a week after meeting Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes at a Virginia Beach, Va., hotel, escort customer Matthew Brandon claimed they solicited money from him.

Brandon testified Thursday morning on Cuadra's eighth day of his capital murder trial before a Luzerne County jury.

Cuadra, 27, is charged with killing Bryan Kocis, 44, at Kocis' home in Dallas Township on Jan. 24, 2007.

Cuadra and Kerekes, 35, operated a male escort business from their Virginia Beach home and produced gay pornographic movies that they marketed on their Web site, boybatter.com.

Brandon said he first met Cuadra and Kerekes at the Hilton Virginia Beach Hotel on Jan. 20, 2007, and met again alone with Cuadra on Jan. 21, 2007, for escort sessions.

Brandon left Virginia Beach that weekend but received several e-mails signed by Kerekes and Cuadra the night of Jan. 24, the night investigators said Kocis was killed.

Assistant district attorneys Michael Melnick, Shannon Crake and Allyson Kacmarski showed the jury that Brandon received e-mails at 5:03 p.m., 8:36 p.m. and several around midnight.

Investigators alleged Kocis was killed sometime between 7:30 p.m. and 8:34 p.m., based on witnesses accounts and a call to 911 that reported Kocis' home on fire.

Brandon said Cuadra in the e-mail sent at 8:36 p.m. solicited $1,000 from him to attend a Webmaster course at a university in Virginia. In return for the money, Brandon said he recieved a free subscription to boybatter.com and a free boybatter DVD.

Brandon said he paid the $1,000 by credit card.

[Guest zachary]

How to Make Additional $77,050 Escorting.

First, get 3 clients, then need an alibi for big crime, and then say need money...

$70,000 client said he loved Cuadra, fast food worker/client ponied up $50 (my kind of guy) and the 3rd, a computer consultant, $7,000.

What happened to the client bill of rights? Honey, I'm home, you said what, you lost $70k in the market?

http://handjtrial.blogspot.com/2009/03/cua...7-overview.html

Hallford was one of three escort customers who testified Wednesday, the seventh day of Cuadra’s capital murder trial before Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr.

Hallford’s testimony appeared to affect the jury, several of whom readjusted themselves in their seats, leaned forward and wrote what he was saying in their notebooks.

Hallford said Cuadra told him to tell investigators that they were together the night Kocis was killed.

“Basically, he didn’t have an alibi for that night,†Hallford said.

Hallford told the jury he saw Cuadra once in late January 2007 and gave him $70,000 because he loves him. “That was the reason for the money,†Hallford said, apparently surprising the jury.

Nep Maliki, a fast-food restaurant employee in Virginia Beach, said he was an escort customer of Cuadra’s and he also felt he was in love with him. He donated $50 to Cuadra’s defense, Maliki said.

Assistant district attorneys Michael Melnick, Shannon Crake and Allyson Kacmarski showed the jury a letter Cuadra allegedly wrote to Maliki on June 13, 2007.

In the letter that Cuadra began, “For your eyes only,†he gave explicit instructions to Maliki to remember certain events in an attempt to have Maliki as an alibi witness.

“I remember that you came over on January 24th (2007) around 7:30 a.m., maybe it was 8 a.m. You had on black jeans and a black heavy sweater. Black slip-on shoes,†Cuadra wrote.

Cuadra also coached Maliki to tell investigators that a silver Nissan XTerra was parked in front of his Virginia Beach home.

Prosecutors allege Cuadra leased a silver Nissan XTerra that he used to drive to Kocis’ home from Virginia Beach.

Maliki said he held onto the letter for six months, carrying it in his pocket.

After Cuadra was charged with Kocis’ murder, prosecutors claim Cuadra also sought money from escort customer Joseph Ryan, a computer consultant in Norfolk, Va. Unlike Hallford and Maliki, Ryan casually told the jury that he gave Cuadra more than $7,000.

[Guest zachary]

I apologize for the conscecutive posts, but if anyone is interested in this case, or even the genre of true crime, this 4 part video interview is over the top, fascinating, and just really weird.

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73867.asp

[TownsendPLocke]

This is just getting worse and worse for the defense.

I wonder how long before it is plead out-or if the prosocuter belives he has a strong enough case that he does not need to accept any sort of plea bargain.

And a $70,000 gift?I deleted an email yesterday from a craigslist hookup looking for me to put $20 on his Starbucks card

[Guest jessedane]

I think that Sean Lockhart is far more involved than has been made public. Possibly the current trial will bring this to light.

I know Sean and honestly don't believe that at all.

[BigK]

It's looking pretty bad for our "hero". 2 people have testified that Harlow asked them to provide alibi's.

For a more detailed update see:

http://www.jasoncurious.com/desk/index.html