Harlow Gets Life

Update: Actually, according to PC's 7:35pm update, Harlow got two lives, served consecutively, plus a few other goodies:

"Life w/o Parole for first-degree murder
Life w/o Parole for criminal conspiracy engaging
20 Years for the rest
1 Year probation."

It's entirely appropriate that Harlow should get two life sentences to Joe's one, as Harlow was, after all, the dominant partner and criminal mastermind in this relationship (see Update 6 to this post here). The only other sentences I could've hoped for was anger management classes; and $1000 restitution to Matthew Brannon (since Harlow obviously isn't going to "webmaster school" at ODU now).

Update 2: GayWired: "Porn Wannabe Harlow Cuadra Gets Life in Prison". I like the accompanying photo!

Update 3: LOL! of the week: Harlow's lawyers declare victory! No, I am NOT making this up. Although, they admit "[Harlow] wasn’t the best witness."

Update 4: An emotional Melnick "lauds all who aided conviction." ""We were prepared for Harlow taking the stand; I felt he did very poorly," Melnick said. "I saw some things, like when he said (Kocis) was talking after his neck was slashed that nearly decapitated him.""

Update 5: Meanwhile, another touching story from a porn star, wrongly accused. Wow, according to Howard, he's only gotten one fan letter so far (was it from Nep?).

Victory!

Update: And now that my emotion is adequately conveyed, here are the details. It's a complete sweep, guilty on all 12 counts, the homicide charge graded as 1st degree murder. Deliberation time: 3.5 hours. The death penalty phase commences tomorrow.

Prediction: Death. This was one pissed off jury, to go down this complex checklist of charges so quickly. The most obvious blame for this rests with Harlow, and foolish decision to ignore his lawyers' advice, and take the stand. The jury was clearly NOT amused.

Oh and then there's the other people, those who encouraged Harlow's folly. But I'll save THAT blame discussion for a future post...

Update 2: A programming reminder, you can view WNEP live here; it is 4pm EDT now, so, in exactly one hour they'll have their first post-verdict news broadcast.

Update 3: Times Leader video...



Update 4: You see Will? If you want to be first to comment on a new thread, you have to be quick, you have to be alert, and you have to be on the ball:


Update 5: You know, after all the excitement of the past couple weeks, this sounds like a great way to relax, break free, and put the whole drama out of one's mind for a day:

"Next week is supposed to climb in the high 80’s in temperature here in San Diego. I am looking forward to hitting the nude beach with the boys at some point. It will be my first time with the sand between my cheeks since . . . July 5th, I think?"

I'm planning on dining with friends at one of my favorite seafood restaurants this weekend myself.

Update 6: PC has done his usual stellar job of providing a round-up of all the relevant news this morning; most interesting to me was the interviews of alternate jurors now dismissed and ungagged from the case:

"Cuadra’s testimony had too many holes in it, said two of the three alternate jurors, who heard all the testimony but were released before the jury began deliberations.

The two men both said they had trouble believing parts of Cuadra’s story. Cuadra testified Kerekes had set up a meeting with Kocis ... but in the middle of the meeting, Kerekes stormed in the house and slashed Kocis’ throat.

“It seems like he didn’t finish his thoughts,” alternate juror four Francis Kopko said. “Some of it seemed credible and then you wondered about some aspects.”"

Update 7: Here's the skinny on how today's DP trial will go; sounds to me like it'll be all wrapped up in one day...today:

"The jury is expected to hear testimony from Kocis’ family, Cuadra’s family and likely psychiatrists before it deliberates Cuadra’s punishment of life in prison without parole or death.

Olszewski said he will have the jury deliberate until a verdict is reached today. If the jury is unable to reach a unanimous decision for the death penalty, Olszewski is mandated by law to sentence Cuadra to life in prison without parole."

Update 8: Penalty phase continued to Monday, thereby averting this problem for Harlow.

Update 9: Good article on what Harlow may face on death row in PA here.

Update 10: I just added a poll, to your upper right. Note the one-word difference from PC's poll question. It'll be interesting to compare results...

Update 11: Times Leader Sunday editorial on Harlow's sentencing defense: "The jury looked either unmoved or inscrutable."

Update 12: Harlow stabs director/supporter John Roecker in the back with a hot butter knife, saying “At the time, I didn’t know (Roecker) was recording my voice, our conversations in order to make a documentary until way later on,” when Melnick used the Roecker interview to impeach Harlow (as I predicted would happen).