Wilkes Barre, Pa- Accused murderer Harlow Raymond Cuadra won’t have Demetrius Fannick as his defense attorney: The state Superior Court denied Cuadra’s appeal on the matter.
The court returned Cuadra’s appeal Tuesday, granting the Luzerne County district attorney’s motion for denial. Cuadra, 26, along with co-defendant Joseph Kerekes, 34, both of Virginia Beach, Va., is accused of killing Bryan Kocis at his Dallas Township home in January 2007.
Court of Common Pleas Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr., who previously dismissed Fannick because of potential conflict of interest, also denied and dismissed Cuadra’s appeal on the matter in May. The appeal was then taken to the Superior Court.
Olszewski ruled Fannick, who had spoken with Kerekes, presented a conflict of interest by defending either defendant.
Cuadra is now represented by conflict counsel attorneys Stephen Menn and Michael Senape.
Cuadra and Kerekes are scheduled to stand trial, beginning Sept. 2. They are accused of slitting Kocis’ throat and setting fire to his Back Mountain home in order to lure an actor from Kocis to their fledgling pornography business. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the two men.