YNOT – A Pennsylvania appellate court upheld the sentence of a gay porn performer, producer and escort who was jailed for life without the possibility of parole after being convicted of the gruesome first-degree murder of a rival.Harlow Cuadra, 29, sought a new trial with claims Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. made mistakes during the two-week courtroom drama that included nearly 60 witnesses and ended with Cuadra’s sentencing in March 2009. Olszewski lost his bid for reelection later that year.
Cuadra contended covert audio recordings the judge allowed unduly prejudiced the jury and violated Pennsylvania law, even though the recordings were made in California. In addition, he claimed Olszewski’s disallowance of a particular defense attorney crippled his case.
In a five-page ruling issued Oct. 14, the appellate court called Olszewski’s rulings “well detailed and well-reasoned.”
Cuadra was convicted of the January 2007 stabbing and immolation death of Cobra Video owner Bryan Kocis, 44. According to testimony, Cuadra and his boyfriend, Joseph Kerekes, confronted Kocis in his rural Pennsylvania home, slit his throat, stabbed him 28 times and then set fire to the residence.
During his trial, Cuadra maintained he hid in a car in the driveway while Kerekes committed the murder, which Cuadra characterized as the result of a lover’s jealous rage. Kerekes, he said, was a domineering, brutal, jealous man with a mean temper and a lack of self-control.
Kerekes, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and several conspiracy charges in December 2008 and was sentenced to life without parole. He declined to testify at Cuadra’s trial, but in his allocution to the murder, he claimed Cuadra committed the deed in order to extricate fellow gay performer Brent Corrigan from an exclusive contract with Cobra Video so the two of them could perform together.
