Gothamist: Closing Arguments in Cortez Murder Trial

Justice Lost

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:32:16 -0500

When the prosecution decided Paul was their killer they molded their "evidence" to prove this. Although David Haughn's written testimony on the day Catherine got killed, stated he was in the apartment at 6:20pm before he left to get his car; that was the same time his downstairs neighbor said he heard a commotion and a scream. Not amazingly, David swore on the witness stand that he couldn't remember what time he left to get the car. The prosecution had no interest in matching the hair strands in Catherine's hand once they found out it did not match Paul's. They didn't even test David's hair; wouldn't that be something if it matched! Nor was the prosecution interested in investigating Joe Cabrera a known "associate" of Catherine's from the club that she worked in. Mr. Cabrera is a known drug dealer and served time for assault.

nick

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:46:39 -0500

i feel like i should mention that flashdancers isn't "all nude".. its just topless. ...slowly backing away from comment thread...

the duecey woosey

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:27:14 -0500

You got that right, Nudes, ALL NUDES. The greatest tagline ever. if you're already nude, how can you be ALL NUDE?

Dave H.

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 08:54:39 -0500

That commentor above only seems insane with his impenetrable logic and prose. It is well established, however, that the sight of a nude, all nude woman is pretty much the gateway moment for a downward lifestyle of substance abuse, violence, psychotic behavior, and possible membership or association with criminal elements. Plus, any woman willing to get nude, all nude in front of a man she's not married to is practically asking to be murdered anyway. I know this because I read it on the Internet. The nude, all nude Internet. Nude!

S.D.

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:39:59 -0500

IMO, he did it. Wonder if the Jury will even consider lame excuse for the Print?

Matvey

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:28:47 -0500

Has no one made a Cortez the Killer joke yet?

paradise by the dashboard lite

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:48:14 -0500

He's a yoga instructor. if he does get raped, he could loosen up them splinter muscles or tighten them up to rip the kock off an inmate. boo boo told yogi this before he swiped the pikanik basket.

rahway skardee kat

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:42:26 -0500

He won't get molested because he'll be found innocent. Again, have you seen the ADA and his rat's nest on his head? How can the jury not laugh at that thing? All I'm saying is look to her place of employment and it's patrons. You sleep with dogs, you're gonna get fleas. and some track marks. I never said I was intelligent, in fact, I'd be the first to admit I'm a loser nerd.

anonymass

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:20:32 -0500

Dude, you're trying way too hard to come off as intelligent and pithy. First of all, pick a screenname and stick with it. Your cutesy attempts at 'sarcasm via snarky moniker' aren't working. Secondly, what the fuck are you talking about? "What's good for the goose...?" Is that supposed to mean something? "A stitch in time saves nine?" And finally, try to resist the urge to use big boy words until you can make a coherent point.

Big Bull John

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:19:07 -0500

Whoa I'm gonna have to tattoo the bitch and rent her out.

Rikers Boys

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:17:32 -0500

He looks mighty fine with that nice long hair. We want him in cellblock 3 after you guys get thru with 'her'.

Big Bull John

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:15:14 -0500

He's pretty. I hope they put in in a cell with me or my buddies. He's got a purdy mouth.

son of sam

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:13:01 -0500

"But Cortez made no calls between 5:56 p.m. and 6:33 p.m., "a 37-minute gap," the prosecutor said. "It just so happens that is the time of the murder." " Well HELLO!. Do you have ANY idea at all how hard it is to be busily stabbing someone AND answer the phone at the same time?. Not that it can't be done, but it's just such a PAIN.

rico suave law

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:52:33 -0500

I'd like to add in Drug use in said place of employment.

felix ungar is innocent

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:42:53 -0500

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Even a nude goose. The reasonable doubt is her place of employment. Look for mob ties, jealous spouses, fights, drunks, assualts, Anything that happened there. oh, they won't weed me out, I'm a chameleon. I've been serving my duty for over 40 years and have not been kicked out yet. They love me, they really do.

mihow

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:19:10 -0500

What the hell does nude or not nude have to do with this? And "nude, all nude, NOT guilty?" What the hell does that even mean? Are you suggesting that this might open up a reasonable doubt? Are you suggesting that since the club featured nude girls then most likely her murderer was someone who frequented that club? Do you honestly think that a jury would care if she was a dancer at a nude club instead of a at a club where they required she wore pasties or something? Are you suggesting that since she worked at such a club she was asking for trouble? That the jury will see it that way as well? Let's just hope that the defense AND the prosecution weeded out people like the 2nd commenter during the jury selection.

if the boot don't fit

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:11:14 -0500

Look to the semen. You sleep with dawgs, you're gonna get fleas. Or, at least, funky jizz. A nude club is much more damning that say a bikini bar. We are still prudes in this society.

anonymass

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:02:19 -0500

I'm not following your logic: what does an all-nude strip club have to do with a bloody fingerprint on the deceased's wall? Or cellphone records that look pretty damning?

look to the nudie bar

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:27:48 -0500

I don't know if flashdancers is a nude bar or not since I don't frequent such places, but last night's news on the closing arguments had a reporter mention that it was nude, all nude girls. Not good if the jury hears that it's a nude club. I would mention all the solicitation charges the club had and it could of been a stalker or a guy who thought the price was too high. Nude, all nude. Therefore, NOT guilty.

edEx

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:19:56 -0500

GUILTY. and hopefully he gets life no parole—just so he can rot.