WILKES-BARRE - from www.timesleader.com - A man convicted of killing Bryan Kocis, of Dallas Township, and sentenced to life in prison for the January 2007 murder, has appealed his sentence and conviction to the state Supreme Court.
Harlow Cuadra, 29, of Virginia, filed court papers stating he is appealing his sentence and conviction that was upheld in October by the state Superior Court. Cuadra filed the papers through his attorney, Demetrius Fannick.
Cuadra sought an appeal with the state Superior Court, stating then-Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr., made mistakes in rulings before and during the two-week trial in March 2009.
The Superior Court upheld Cuadra’s conviction and sentencing, stating Olszewski’s rulings before and during Cuadra’s trial were “well detailed and well-reasoned.”
“We can find no error in its factual findings and corollary legal conclusions,” the appellate court ruled on each of the issues Cuadra challenged.
Cuadra is jailed at the State Correctional Institution at Coal Township in Northumberland County,
Joseph Kerekes, 36, also of Virginia, pleaded guilty to Kocis’ death and was sentenced to life in prison.
Police said Kocis was found dead inside his house, which had been set ablaze. Police said Kocis was stabbed more than 20 times and nearly decapitated.
