Wilkes Barre, Pa- Opening statements were heard Tuesday morning in a high-profile murder trial in Luzerne County.
Harlow Cuadra is accused of killing his rival in the gay pornography business.
Two opening statements were heard at the Luzerne County courthouse, each giving two very different views of accused killer Harlow Cuadra. The prosecution said Cuadra is a killer while the defense said he is actually the victim.
Assistant District Attorney Mike Melnick told the jury all the evidence gathered during the very long investigation points to Cuadra as the killer of Bryan Kocis two years ago in Dallas Township. Melnick said a knife used in the killing plus a rental car used to get to the house in the Back Mountain can be traced directly back to Harlow Cuadra. Also, prosecutors have telephone, cell phone and computer records as even more evidence.
Prosecutors said Cuadra killed Kocis because he was a rival in a gay pornography business.
A fire at Kocis' home in Dallas Township two years ago was meant to cover up the crime.
Melnick told the jury the case is all about the money but defense attorney Joe D'Andrea pointed to Joseph Kerekes as the killer, alleging Cuadra was under Kerekes' spell and control. D'Andrea added Cuadra didn't do it.
Joe Kerekes pleaded guilty to second degree murder in December. He was sentenced to life in prison.
The prosecution in this case is seeking a first-degree conviction and the death penalty.
After the opening statements, the first witnesses took the stand. Testimony in the trial could take two to three weeks.
