In any other time, and possibly in another place, the murder trial of Harlow Cuadra would have been sensational.
He has an exotic name. Hugo? That’s very NEPA, but Harlow is pure show business. He is accused of the slashing murder of his rival in the gay porn business, Bryan Kochis of Dallas in January of 2007. A second man, Joseph Kerekes, pleaded guilty to second degree murder and will spend the rest of his life in prison. Kerekes, who wasn’t expected to testify in Cuadra’s trial, was moved to a local prison recently and is poised to take the stand.
A million years ago in the same courthouse, this type of trial would have merited wall to wall media attention. I can remember working for WILK in the 1980s and spending days camped out in a courtroom. And, I was not alone. WARM would have a reporter around, too. The Citizens’ Voice had two reporters covering trials. There would be a bank of news photographers stationed on the third floor of the courthouse, constantly following the comings and goings of witnesses, the victim’s family and, of course, the accused.
I vividly recall the pandemonium associated with the trial of Larry and Leona Cottam, who starved their 14-year old son to death to satisfy their religious convictions. The New York Times headlined their story from Wilkes-Barre, “Son of 2 Recluses is discovered dead.” Eric weighed 69 pounds at the time of his death. The two were tried and convicted of third degree murder, served their sentences, and eventually left prison.
The following year, there was non-stop attention paid to handsome dentist and accused wife killer Glen Wolsieffer. The doctor was charged with the brutal strangulation death of his wife, Betty, in their Birch Street home in 1986. The trial was followed by every media member, house wife and traveling salesperson in the county. Dr. Wolsieffer was convicted of third degree murder and was released from jail in 2005 after he finally manned up and admitted he was the killer.
The Hugo Selenski case was the most recent mash up of celebrity defendant and cultist fan gals. Selenski was accused of killing two men and burning their bodies beyond recognition, then disposing of their remains near his Back Mountain home. A jury acquitted Hugo, just in time for the former D.A. to have him arrested on additional charges in the death of two others.
Hugo is probably jealous of Harlow, an “actor” in pornographic films and male escort. The diminutive Cuadra is accused of a slashing so vicious that his alleged victim, Kocis, was nearly decapitated. I went to the trial this afternoon with one of my friends and was surprised to see so many empty seats. I can recall days when there wasn’t a seat to be had and standing room only in the back.
My friend didn’t think too much of the testimony, but I found it fascinating. Two men took the stand and testified that Harlow Cuadra sought an alibi from each. Both donated money to his defense; one $70,000 and one $50. Both also professed their love for the defendant. Both looked straight ahead when exiting the courtroom, refusing to look at the defense table.
There were other witnesses as well, and it seems a foundation is being laid to place Cuadra in Luzerne County at the time of the killing. There seems to be an attempt by the defense to put the blame on Kerestes, who I believe is being portrayed as a menacing control freak.
Some things change, and some things stay the same. The family of the victim sat in the front row. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be a mother or father in their position and it was heartbreaking.
Private citizens can go to the courthouse and watch these trials. Be prepared to squirm on an unyielding wooden seat. You might also be impressed that this procedure tries its best to be fair to all citizens, whether they are a couple whose religion takes them too far, a devious dentist, a rakish charmer or an exhibitionist actor.
Corbett
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