I continue to find some humor/irony in the fact that the two suspects in the Bryan Kocis murder trial are from Republican dominated Virginia Beach and that based upon local gossip and rumors, the escort service the suspects operated in Washington, D.C., had prominent closeted Republican members of Congress as clients. I have had people, in fact, flat out recount to me in person supposed details of local escorts being hired by members of Congress and/or senior military personnel. Whether or not any of it is true, I have know way of knowing. Nonetheless, rumors that the pair were set up to silence them have circulated at times locally and on various blogs. Having one been threatened myself by the aide to a closeted former member of Congress who will remain unnamed (I was told that very bad things were going to happen to me), I guess I cannot wholly rule out that possibility. From an attorney perspective, the handling of the case so far borders on a three ring circus and will probably cast doubts on whatever the outcome of the trial. Here are some highlights from 365gay.com:*
(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) The trial of two men accused of killing a gay porn producer they saw as a competitor could last for several months and contain lurid details of how the seamy underbelly of gay life operates. Joseph Kerekes and Harlow Cuadra are accused of killing Bryan Kocis, the owner of Cobra Video in 2006. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty.
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Each of the accused will be assigned a new lawyer. So far the two accused have had 13 lawyers representing them. A 14th was disqualified by the judge. Even when the trial begins the prosecution alone has indicated it may call more than 30 witnesses. Over 35 prosecution subpoenas have already been issued. Among the expected witnesses is porn star Sean Lockhart.
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When the pair became suspects in the murder Virginia Beach police and the FBI began their own investigation into the men and started looking into their business. Last July Cuadra and Kerekes were charged in Virginia with racketeering, conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to receive money from the earnings of prostitution. The pair made a plea agreement in which they pleaded no contest and allowed police in Virginia to seize their assets.
1 comment:
The defense attorneys are most likely stonewalling. It's to be expected. With the trail H&J left behind, credit card receipts, cell phones records, e-mails, car rental - there's a few more, I think - this is pretty much open and shut.
It's probably a matter now of determining which person played what role in Mr. Kocis' death.
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