No death sentence for Harlow Cuadra, the man convicted last week of the brutal murder of Cobra Video producer Bryan Kocis in January 2007. Instead, he will serve a life sentence for the first degree murder conviction, after the 12 jurors failed to reach a unanimous vote after just five hours of deliberation.
The same jury that convicted Cuadra Thursday of first-degree homicide for Bryan Kocis’ January 2007 murder at his Dallas Township home deliberated for about five and a half hours before telling county Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. they could not reach a unanimous verdict, despite being given more time.
The jury returned to the courtroom around 2:30 to tell Olszewski they agreed one of the factors wasn’t valid, but reached an impasse on the other.
Olszewski instructed jurors to try and reach a unanimous decision. The jury foreman didn’t specify which of the two aggravating factors they were undecided. [Citizens Voice]
EARLIER:
• The Fate of Harlow Cuadra: Will There Be Justice for Bryan Kocis?
cruiser
Greed, pure & simple> It was greed that got him into this mess and now look where he ends up because he had to have more.
Amazing what Greed will make you do
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
@cruiser:
Bullshit.
I’m sure you’re a smart guy. His ‘alleged’ accomplice who WAS the leader looked like a frigging sociopath.
Do I think Cundra is guilty?
Hell yeah!
Guilty of being a poor white red neck with a f*cked up family and too god for saking stupid that he would ALWAYS be put into create dumb shit.
This reminds me of my old, old, ol boos when I was working with homeless junkies men, women etc etc and she wisely told me that life is made up of followers and leaders.
Said this because I tried to save a Cundra type but she told me sometimes people are meant to die for stupid reasons because they will never have the strength to have any back bone and believe in themsleves.
Oh well, R.I.P Kocis, you did a tonne of kids porn and exploited a loada midwestern kids for muchos cash but hey ho.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
I agree with what John From England wrote.
I don’t feel sorry for Cuadra, but I feel sorry for his ignorance and stupidity in knowing a murder was going to happen and doing nothing to stop it. If he had just gone to the police, he’d be a free man now. Instead he’s going to rot in jail.
That said, when can we see the sensationalistic MOV on this story a la the Billionaire Boys Club?
jackson
After following this case for awhile, I pretty much believe that Cuadra wasn’t the one that killed Kocis. Based on Kerekes’ actions over time, I think he was controlling Cuadra. And, it seems as though Kerekes got the ultimate payback. He was able to control Cuadra even from his jail cell.
Consider that Kerekes reversed his position on testifying on Cuadra’s behalf. Last week he decided to take the stand in order to “save” his former partner/lover. He could have told the jury that he was the sole killer, thereby getting him off (or a lesser sentence). But, at the last minute, he decided not to testify for Cuadra. He gave Cuadra hope, only to steal it away.
Kerekes is the real monster. That said, it does not remove blame from Cuadra. I think murder 1 and life in prison is the wrong conclusion. But, I also was not in the court room hearing all the evidence. So, I’m not here to criticize the jury.
alan brickman
Cuadra is also a victim in all this too…Brent Corrigan is more guilty than he is…
Mister C
Very strange,
Now if this was a Black Man who killed a Gay.The responses would be in the 100’s. So is this an acceptance that our anger only comes from what race commits such acts?
Viktor
Interest concept, Mr. C, but I’m not sure that’s the case. Believe it or not, this Harlow and Brent Corrigan have fans that will swear up and down they are innocent.
Viktor
Interesting I meant…sorry it’s late
Ty
@Mister C: This was about rival porn producers, not a hate crime Mister C. It wasn’t a racially or sexuality biased crime.
RS
@alan brickman: I see that as a factor, potentially, and perhaps the jury did since they deadlocked on the death penalty. But it wouldn’t change the sentence. Under Pennsylvania law, an accomplice to first degree murder is also guilty of first degree murder. He would have gotten life whether he held the knife or just conspired to help Kerekes.
BTW, he received two life sentences (one for the murder, one for the myriad conspiracy charges), plus 20 years for other charges, plus one year probably. Even if on appeal some of the convictions are overturned, it’s likely he will stay behind bars for the rest of his life.
RS
@RS: Ooops, I meant that to be a reply to Jackson.
@alan brickman: Honestly, what basis for that? The DA exonerated him of any culpability, and even Harlow himself on the stand said that Brent had no knowledge or involvement with it. Why wouldn’t Harlow try to implicate someone, ANYONE, if he could?
Robert
If there was a gay jury, they’d find Harlow “innocent by reason of being a hot piece of man-meat and we want him free so we can hookup later.”
Seriously folks, Kocis was stabbed in a surprise attack, on a couch, laying down (bottoming). It had to have been Cuadra on top of him. This kid has lied and lied and lied again, and made such banal comments as trying to wear a “smiley face” tie to sway the jury.
Also, Kocis was NOT a pedophile…ephebophile at most (age 15).
CarbonLive
Harlow Cuadra Not guilty!!!! i miss you…