The Trial of Harlow Cuadra Begins

Opening statements were made this morning in the trial of porn star and escort Harlow Cuadra, 24, accused of murdering 44 year old Cobra Video owner Bryan Kocis.

The prosecution's opening statement from Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick lasted for one hour and twenty-four minutes this morning, painting Cuadra as the cold-blooded killer of Koics, seeking to eliminate the gay porn producer as a competitor.

Cuadra's mother, seated in the front row of the courtroom, cried as the prosecution described how Kocis died, being nearly decapitated in one fell swoop and stabbed 28 times, while Cuadra himself wrote notes in a yellow legal pad. Melnick said a knife used in the killing plus a rental car to get to the home of Kocis can be traced directly back to Harlow Cuadra and also cited telephone, cell phone and computer records as more evidence against him that will be seen during the trial.

Menawhile defense attorney Joseph D'Andrea's opening statement was only fifteen minutes in length as he summed up that Harlow Cuadra is innocent in the killing of Bryan Kocis and cites three other possible killers. D'Andrea claims he will prove Sean Lockhart better known as porn star Brent Corrigan, his partner Grant Roy and Cuadra's own partner, Joseph Kerekes (who plead guilty to second-degree murder in the case earlier this year and is sentenced to life in prison) all had the motive and ability to kill Kocis.

"Our defense is simple," D'Andrea stated before jurors. "Harlow didn't do it. This young man did not slash anyone's throat, stab 28 times or set his house on fire. ... You'll hear testimony that Grant Roy and Sean Lockhart hated Bryan Kocis, they even wanted him dead."

D'Andrea described Kerekes, Cuadra's professed first love and only boyfriend, as being dominant and controlling over his client, alleging Cuadra was under his spell and control. "[Kerekes] was prostituting his lover Harlow to make money. It was money that motivated Joseph Kerekes. Harlow sits here innocent and he has the protection of innocence throughout this trial."

News footage shortly following the arrest of Cuadra was featured recently on the here! TV program, "Everything You Wanted To Know About Gay Porn Stars (*But Were Afraid To Ask)." One of the most chilling moments features reporters asking Cuadra, being led in handcuffs, if he committed the murder of Bryan Kocis.

"I didn't do it," he responded.

When asked by a reporter if he knew who did, he responded, "Ask Sean and Grant."

Melnick also read in his opening statement today from the infamous wiretapped conversations Cuadra allegedly had with Corrigan and Roy in April 2007 at a nude beach in San Diego. Melnick read Cuadra's quote, "It was quick. He never saw it coming. Actually, seeing him going down, made me feel better inside."