May 5, 2012 | Porn Stars

Harlow Cuadra appeals murder sentence

Harlow Cuadra, a former gay porn star and producer, has filed an appeal on his conviction. Cuadra received a life sentence in 2009 for the grisly murder of Bryan Kocis, the owner of Cobra Video.

Cuadra only managed to escape the death penalty when the jury was unable to agree on his sentence.

Joseph Kerekes, Cuadra's boyfriend and business partner, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is serving life in prison.

For the appeal Cuadra is citing duress behind his role in the murder. He is claiming to have been controlled by Kerekes, who was a bully and an abuser. He faulted his trial lawyers, Paul Walker and Joseph D’Andrea, for failing to raise the issue for the jury.

An earlier appeal was upheld by the state Superior Court in October 2010.

A new book on the murder is due out at the end of May. Cobra Killer, by Peter A. Conway and Andrew E. Stoner, will explore the murder and subsequent trial in more detail.

The timing of the appeal and the book's pending release are purely coincidental we're sure. But perhaps Cuadra will get a free copy of the book for helping generate a little publicity.

Man in gay porn killing appeals conviction [The Abington Journal]