The Times Leader reports what I mentioned earlier today... that Joseph Kerekes, who admitted to killing Bryan Kocis, is being transferred from a state prison in Dauphin County to the Lackawanna County Jail.
The transfer suggests Kerekes, 35, will testify against his partner, Harlow Cuadra, who is on trial in Luzerne County for his alleged role in killing Kocis.
Kerekes pleaded guilty in December to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. When he was sentenced, Kerekes pledged he wouldn't testify against Cuadra.
Cuadra's lawyers, Joseph D'Andrea and Paul Walker, filed a petition with Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. to have Kerekes transferred "so that he may appear...to testify in the trial of Commonwealth v. Cuadra."
Olszewski granted the transfer on Wednesday.
Attorney John Pike, who co-represented Kerekes, said he wasn't aware Kerekes was going to be transferred.
"I've been in contact with Joe through correspondence and they (D'Andrea and Walker) have contacted me about Joe," Pike said. "Did they go see him? I don't know."
Pike said either he or Attorney Shelley Centini will have to be present in the courtroom if Kerekes testifies.
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Meanwhile, the Citizens' Voice is reporting that Joseph Kerekes will likely testify in Harlow Cuadra’s capital homicide trial.
Kerekes, Cuadra’s former partner, pleaded guilty to second-degree homicide in December to the killing of Bryan Kocis at his Dallas Township home in January 2007.
Kerekes said during his plea that he wouldn’t testify for prosecution in the case. A transfer order signed by Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. on Wednesday suggests that Kerekes, 35, will testify for the defense.
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So which is it? I'm working on finding that out right now.
Update @ 5:52 PM: Sources tell me that Kerekes will be testifying for the defense.
The transfer suggests Kerekes, 35, will testify against his partner, Harlow Cuadra, who is on trial in Luzerne County for his alleged role in killing Kocis.
Kerekes pleaded guilty in December to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. When he was sentenced, Kerekes pledged he wouldn't testify against Cuadra.
Cuadra's lawyers, Joseph D'Andrea and Paul Walker, filed a petition with Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. to have Kerekes transferred "so that he may appear...to testify in the trial of Commonwealth v. Cuadra."
Olszewski granted the transfer on Wednesday.
Attorney John Pike, who co-represented Kerekes, said he wasn't aware Kerekes was going to be transferred.
"I've been in contact with Joe through correspondence and they (D'Andrea and Walker) have contacted me about Joe," Pike said. "Did they go see him? I don't know."
Pike said either he or Attorney Shelley Centini will have to be present in the courtroom if Kerekes testifies.
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Meanwhile, the Citizens' Voice is reporting that Joseph Kerekes will likely testify in Harlow Cuadra’s capital homicide trial.
Kerekes, Cuadra’s former partner, pleaded guilty to second-degree homicide in December to the killing of Bryan Kocis at his Dallas Township home in January 2007.
Kerekes said during his plea that he wouldn’t testify for prosecution in the case. A transfer order signed by Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. on Wednesday suggests that Kerekes, 35, will testify for the defense.
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So which is it? I'm working on finding that out right now.
Update @ 5:52 PM: Sources tell me that Kerekes will be testifying for the defense.
