Monday, January 28, 2008

Fannick Will Defend Cuadra in Homicide Case

Demetrius Fannick

The Times Leader is reporting that homicide suspect Harlow Cuadra has a new attorney.

Attorney Demetrius Fannick on Monday filed court papers indicating he will be representing Cuadra in his homicide case in the death of Bryan Kocis, a gay porn producer.

Cuadra had been represented by public attorneys from outside the public defender’s office. Kerekes is also represented by public attorneys from outside the public defender’s office.

Fannick could not be reached Monday.

He is most known for his defense of homicide suspect Hugo Selenski. Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Selenski in the 2003 shotgun slayings of suspected drug dealers Frank James and Adeiye Keiler.

Selenski was cleared of those homicide charges after a jury trial in 2006. He was found guilty of abuse of a corpse for burning the men’s bodies.

Selenski is now awaiting trial in the deaths of pharmacist Michael Kerkowski and Tammy Fassett. Fannick is not representing Selenski in that case.

The Citizen's Voice also carries the story, and includes:

Fannick would not disclose how much Cuadra paid for his services or where those funds came from. Most of Cuadra's assets were seized through a separate legal proceeding.

But Cuadra and Joseph Manual Kerekes, his alleged accomplice, were trying to raise money for their defense on the Internet.

"I'm on board and it's my understanding this will be a trial," Fannick said. "I don't see any other way it's going to be resolved, unless the DA's office drops the charges. My client maintains his innocence."