Thursday, February 9, 2012
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By Ed Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE - A seven minute video of Harlow Cuadra and Sean Lockhart playing catch with a football and walking nude on a beach near San Diego, Calif., was played to the jury on Friday.
Lockhart, who is testifying on the fourth day of Cuadra's capital murder trial, said Cuadra's partner, Joseph Kerekes, recorded the video on Black's Beach, a nude beach, on April 28, 2007.
Conversations Cuadra and Lockhart had on the beach, including having dinner the day before, is expected to be played to the jury.
Cuadra is charged in the killing of gay pornographic movie producer Bryan Kocis, 44, inside Kocis' home in Dallas Township on Jan. 24, 2007.
Prosecutors alleged Cuadra and Kerekes, 35, killed Kocis to avoid paying Kocis' company, Cobra Video.
Lockhart was a contract model for Cobra Video.
While walking along the beach on April 27, 2007, Lockhart said Cuadra and Kerekes were "opening up" about the murder. This made Lockhart upset, he testified, and he fell behind.
"Cuadra dropped back, he touched my arm and he said, 'don't worry, it was quick, he went quick,'" Lockhart testified while nearly sobbing.
POSTED 11:46 a.m.
WILKES-BARRE - Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. excused the jury to inquire if Sean Lockhart wanted a lawyer after Lockhart made "potentially incriminating" statements that he worked in adult films as a minor.
Lockhart was answering questions from Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick about his background in adult films when Olszewski stopped the proceeding and excused the jury from the courtroom.
Olszewski cautioned Lockhart that he may have "incriminated himself criminally" by admitting under oath he provided a false identification and was performing in adult films while a minor.
Olszewski gave Lockhart several options, to include speaking with a lawyer or declining to speak with a laywer and continue to testify.
Lockhart declined to speak or have a lawyer, and Olszewski returned the jury to resume the trial.
POSTED 11:32 a.m.
WILKES-BARRE - Sean Lockhart testified he had several "internet interactions" with Harlow Cuadra beginning in December 2006. Lockhart was called to testify in Cuadra's capital murder trial before Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr.
Lockhart said he was "17" years old when he did "two shoots that were spread onto four DVDs," adding that his first film was for Cobra Video, operated by Bryan Kocis, 44.
Lockhart, now 22, said he owns his own adult production company based in San Diego, Calif.
Prosecutors alleged Cuadra killed Kocis, whom he considered a main rival in pornographic films, and wanted to flim movies with Lockhart. Kocis was found dead inside his Dallas Township home on Jan. 24, 2007, more than a week after Lockhart met with Cuadra at the adult video news award ceremony in Las Vegas, Nev.
Two witnesses in adult films testified earlier this week that Lockhart was a "well known" actor in the industry, and Cuadra would have made "six figures" from movies with Lockhart.
POSTED 11:20 a.m.
WILKES-BARRE - Sean Lockhart is expected to testify today at Harlow Cuadra's capital murder trial.
Lockhart walked into the courtroom and sat down, awaiting to be called to the witness stand.
Lockhart's business agent and partner, Grant Roy, is also expected to testify today.
Cuadra, 27, turned to the right when Lockhart entered the courtroom, and put his head down.
Prosecutors are expected to play to the jury recorded conversations Lockhart and Roy had with Cuadra and Cuadra's partner, Joseph Kerekes, in California.
Investigators alleged Cuadra and Kerekes made several "admissions" to the murder of rival gay pornographic movie producer Bryan Kocis in January 2007.
POSTED: 9:19 a.m.
WILKES-BARRE - An alternate juror in the Harlow Cuadra capital murder trial in Luzerne County was excused due to illness.
Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. identified the juror as alternate #3, a male who is a diabetic.
Olszewski said the alternate juror's wife contacted the court last night to say her husband was ill. Olszewski said he spoke on the telephone with the alternate juror this morning, and was told the alternate juror became ill overnight.
Due to the developments, Olszewski met with prosecutors and Cuadra's lawyers before trial proceedings, and it was agreed to excuse the juror and continue the trial with three alternate jurors.
Cuadra, 27, is charged for the killing of Bryan Kocis, 44, inside Kocis' Dallas Township home on Jan. 24, 2007. Investigators alleged Cuadra and his partner, Joseph Kerekes, 35, killed Kocis, whom they considered their main rival in the gay pornography movie industry.
Kerekes pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Cuadra, if convicted of first degree murder.
Testimony is continuing with state police Trooper Michael Boone, a member of the forensic services unit, Friday morning. He testified that Kocis' home was severely damaged by a fire, and he found five loaded handguns inside the home.
Jurors are expected to listen to conversations investigators intercepted between Cuadra and Kerekes and Grant Roy and Sean Lockahrt. Roy and Lockhart were involved in a civil federal lawsuit with Kocis.
Prosecutors claim in court records that Cuadra and Kerekes made "admissions" to Kocis' murder.
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