Now we await PC to down a couple beers, and then give us his eyewitness account...Breaking News: Cuadra, Kerekes hearing ends abruptly after possible conflict emerges
1:25 p.m.
By: Michael Sisak 07/08/2008
WILKES-BARRE - A pre-trial hearing in the capital murder case against Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes ended abruptly Tuesday after a court-appointed attorney for Kerekes disclosed a conflict of interest involving himself and an attorney for Cuadra.
Kerekes attorney Mark Bufalino said he is a partner in the same law firm as Cuadra attorney Paul Galante.
The partnership could create a conflict if Kerekes' defense differs from Cuadra's, or if one defendant implicates the other, Bufalino said.
Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. ordered the hearing continued until Wednesday at 8 a.m., to allow the attorneys time to research the ethical and legal rammifactions of the conflict.
Update: The Times Leader's story, essentially the same:
2:40 PMUpdate 2: An interesting report by Renee (comment in the previous thread):
Attorneys conflict in representing Cuadra, Kerekes
Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE - A pre-trial hearing in the capital murder case against Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes came to a surprising end today when defense lawyers told the judge that there may be a conflict in representing their clients.
Attorney Mark Bufalino, one of three lawyers representing Kerekes, informed Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. that he works in the same law firm as Attorney Paul Galante, who is one of three lawyers representing Cuadra.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the two Virginia Beach, Va., men who are charged with the slaying of gay porn producer Bryan Kocis in Dallas Township nearly 18 months ago.
Olszewski said he was notified about the potential conflict at about 1:15 p.m., when prosecutors and defense attorneys returned to the courtroom to resume the hearing after lunch.
Up until that time, prosecutors and defense attorneys were arguing about which evidence can be used at trial. Defense lawyers requested seperate trials for Cuadra and Kerekes, claiming that cross-examination of prosecution witnesses may implicate one another in the murder.
Prosecutors were ready to begin presenting witnesses in the afternoon when the hearing abruptly ended for the day. Olszewski ordered the defense lawyers to get advice from the Pennsylvania Bar Association or an ethics lawyer.
For the complete story, read The Times Leader on Wednesday.
Here Jim how about this Harlow call me yesterday morning and says my attorneys are prepared they are gonna do whatever they have to due to put this hearing and the trial off, and what happens today this bullshit with the attorneys having a conflict this was a damn scam if i have ever saw one, lets get to testifying and get this shit over with.....
39 comments:
*sigh* its going to drag on and on and on... :(
Rapture Jim ;)
Well at least we now know its official Joe and Harlow are Splitsville, Hostile former bosom buddies ah the good ole days longone of parading around Stratum Court in the Daisey duke shorts,,,
Attorney Conflicts seem unavoidable in Luzerene County!
This is just nuts.
Wasn't the whole point of appointing conflict counsel to avoid a conflict?
Who was the dimwit bureaucrat over there who appointed as conflict counsel someone with an apparant conflict?!?!
This is insane.
AND A RELATED QUESTION...
Why was this not spoken of until now?
Did Bufalino and Galante just realize they work for the same law firm? Did they bump into each other at the water cooler yesterday, and say to each other "Whoa! What are you doin' here, stranger!"
This is INSANE.
they have limited tactics is my best guess. they pulled this one out last minute due to desperation and DELAY trial moving forward.
Agreed really it's all they have the mountain of evidence is so HUGE at this point.
Yeah Jim of course they knew of the conflict.
Also causes a hardship with all the witnesses on hand THEY KNOW delays add to costs (meals hotels and change in flight plans)
Dewayne dont count on that one, that is a lie presented to the court, i know i listen to them on the phone, there is no splitsville that is bullshit
"didn't they know they worked for the same law firm?"
Yes jim- you are right -
insane!!!
Wouldn't a judge in a particular area know which lawyers are in what law firms?
Jim Said....
This is just nuts.
Wasn't the whole point of appointing conflict counsel to avoid a conflict?
Who was the dimwit bureaucrat over there who appointed as conflict counsel someone with an apparant conflict?!?!
This is insane.
I believe that was PPO
Elm, if that's the case, then it's a disaster for the defense. I imagine PPO will be FURIOUS at those attorneys who did not notify him, months ago when they were appointed, that they belonged to the same firm.
If I were PPO, I'd lock both attorneys up for contempt.
I'm 100% on board with Renee's opinion (see update). This is a scam that stinks to high heaven.
"I'm 100% on board with Renee's opinion (see update). This is a scam that stinks to high heaven."
it will be very interesting to see what happens next, i suspect heads will roll for this.
unreal.
If you put 2 and 2 together I wonder who would stink to high heaven.
oh jim, where to begin.
you just dont get it do? how stupid are you? i mean really come on now.
you know the FBI is behind this, they need more time to get those in that child porn ring that bryan headed. RW the mole is so close to busting them all - the true hero in all this mess.
i wish they'd hurry up, i need to spank my robbie so hard. i miss him so - or maybe he is playing me, the longer he stays away, the harder the punishment. maybe he wants beat to within inches of his life, who the hell knows with him these days.
or something like that.
ROFLMAO.
Yeah. Looks like we see the real defense strategy: delay delay delay.
It's not about exposing Elm's FBI conspiracies, with shocking courtroom revelations of Matlock proportions...the shocked jury standing in unison, and screaming "innocent!" when the verdict is called for.
Nope. INSTEAD, it's lets keep coming up with conflicts, and delay this trial FOREVER! Luzerne County is not in good financial health, and after all, they are paying BOTH sides of this, prosecution AND defense.
Eventually the financial pressure on the county will become so great, Harlow and Joe will be able to extract a deal less than life in prison.
Which, given the amount of evidence against them, would be considered a legal victory for the defense attorneys involved.
That's the real Harlow and Joe defense strategy, revealed today.
Like Renee/Madame said there is no splitsville between Joe and Harlow. I have known this for quite sometime. The prosecution knows this as well. they have the taped phone conversations. Why are they perpetuating that lie.
"that is the real Harlow and Joe strategy revealed today"
And if our justice system is that fucked - these two deserve to get less than what they should have. Shame on our legal system.
Many heads shoved up many assholes,
and it never ends.
Jim,
I thought the exact same thing earlier. I though those MF's are stalling in an attempt at getting some kind of deal to end it.
I don't think it will work. LC will get on top of this situation right away - they were played for fools today by the defense.
Now this is interesting, a defendant in a case has contact with a witness in the case. That is not allowed in any jurisdiction, especially given that witnesses are kept apart from one another before they testify.
Delays are a common defense counsel tactic. This should not be a surprise.
I cant wait till they are sent to my site.
gluttony,
LOL!
always a soothing word! :)
Rob said...
Now this is interesting, a defendant in a case has contact with a witness in the case. That is not allowed in any jurisdiction, especially given that witnesses are kept apart from one another before they testify.
Well Rob i would suggest you check with Joe and Harlow about why they still call me and i am on the states witness list. No one can make them dial the number they have to do it on there own, if they want to dial then i will allow the state to listen to the call. If they talk and the state gets anything great if not then the time was a waste for the twenty mintues. But most of them are worth taping with Joe. He was very talkative after the hearing today should make for good listening for the DA ... Just so you know the DA knows they still call they were calling while i was in there office.
rob says,
"delay tactic"
I just can't get past these two attorneys working for the same firm and THAT coming out today???!!?
Regarding Joe Kerekes father and is
Harlow, Joe & Jesus cap-
Poor guy has probably lost his mind - seriously.
I don't think it was anything more than that. IMO
madame- "they were calling while I was in the office"
OMG-
Renee can you tell us why you think they would be calling you?
They must know this could not help them but hurt them more,
is it "for old times sake?"
They could not possibly still think you are friends??
You probably can't tell us what they said?
Let me clairfy with respect to Mr. Kerekes. I believe Joe's parents desperately hope Harlow remains apart of the "family" and the shirt was a way of sending that message.
Remember folks Joe treated EVERYONE like Dirt (his mother cleaned up condoms from the floor) his dad kept the house in renovations and "modifications" Harlow did as he was told.
I really don't care if Harlow is the killer
Joe has the ultimate responsibility here he is the Ultimate Douchebag!
V.J. said...
madame- "they were calling while I was in the office"
OMG-
Renee can you tell us why you think they would be calling you?
They must know this could not help them but hurt them more,
is it "for old times sake?"
They could not possibly still think you are friends??
You probably can't tell us what they said?
V.J., there is just something about Madame that makes stupid criminals want to spill the beans to her, as Miss Barclay did when she spewed all that filth to Madame in the Tranny Confessions. Joe knows she is no friend at this point, but her apparently hypnotic voice just keeps the dunderhead on the hook and coming back for more self-incrimination.
She is every prosecutor's dream!
I can confirm RW is not in LC, he was not asked to go. He has nothing to add to these proceedings.
RW is far removed from being central to anything in this murder saga.
Sean and his CobraKiller however remain central to everything in this saga.
Those that do not like this, take your complaints to the DA.
Fact is fact people. Deal with it.
Yes, Brent and Grant were indeed most central to this prosecution.
They were in the center of turning info they had over to the police, voluntarily and early on; they were in the center of a highly courageous sting operartion; they ARE in the center of being star witnesses for the prosecution case.
Seems to me, after all is said and done, when the various police departments involved consider handing out civilian merit citations in this case...Brent and Grant, being as you say most central, should be first in line to have medals pinned on them.
"Seems to me, after all is said and done, when the various police departments involved consider handing out civilian merit citations in this case...Brent and Grant, being as you say most central, should be first in line to have medals pinned on them."
LOL cause I know your serious :)
forgot to say, they were central to seeking out Joe and Harlow, vetting Harlow and recommending him to Bryan Kocis.
how that deserves a medal is beyond me.
Well, Grant stumbled across Harlow while combing the internet for hot models. They were in no way seeking out Joe.
And based on all available evidence, no one "vetted" anyone to Bryan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vetting
Sean said himself he recommended to Harlow to contact Bryan.
It is on record.
Which is a far cry from "vetting."
Kentie had his disguise "fully vetted" for the trial, which deserves to be submitted as a new, insane use of the word to Wikipedia.
Actually, I partly take that previous comment back.
The situation you describe (Sean recommended Harlow to contact Bryan) could be construed as Sean vetting Bryan (to Harlow).
So, you got the vettees mixed up.
The CobraKiller also said himself he recommended to Harlow to contact Bryan.
It is also on record.
No mix up here.
Again, that would be a vetting of Bryan, if anyone.
Recheck the definition of "vetting."
"Again, that would be a vetting of Bryan, if anyone."
ahhhh ok i understand now what your saying :)
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