Paul Cortez Trial (starts Jan 22 2006)

mattsmom · #1 01-19-2007, 10:58 PM

The trial of Paul Cortez for his brutal murder of Catherine Woods is supposed to start on Jan 22. I can't find any information about it at this point so I don't know if there has been a delay.

Here's the websleuths link to the thread about Catherine's murder:

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32780

If anyone has any info please share it!

Thanks.

Alice253 · #2 01-20-2007, 05:26 PM

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/...ap3344558.html

Hi mattsmom. This is the only thing I've found so far. When you go to the link, scroll down to Jan. 22.

AP News Calendar
Associated Press 01.19.07, 2:31 PM ET

New York - Trial for Paul Cortez, charged in the mutilation death of ex-girlfriend Catherine Woods, an aspiring dancer from Ohio who wound up working as a topless dancer.

William N · #3 01-23-2007, 06:44 PM

Cortez's lawyer refused to show up yesterday or today. The defense tactic is to delay, delay, delay. Catherine Crier had a segment on the case this evening.

mattsmom · #4 01-24-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by: William N
Cortez's lawyer refused to show up yesterday or today

I don't know much about trials. Can a defense attorney stay on the case after not showing up?

mattsmom · #5 01-25-2007, 11:24 AM

I found some articles about the defense attorney's refusal to show up on Mon or Tues.

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.p...123-D7-00.html

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...WS01/301230022

I can't find any information on what happened in court on Wednesday.

I just hope that this mess of a defense attorney doesn't give way to a mistrial. I wish I knew more about the legal system.

mattsmom · #6 01-27-2007, 02:10 PM

It looks like the jury was selected late last week and opening arguments are expected Monday (1/29/07).

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crim...p-414478c.html

mattsmom · #7 01-31-2007, 10:07 AM

Not much happening yet. One of the links states that Cortez could face 25 years to life if convicted. 25 years doesn't seem like enough!

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=243232

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.p...130-D3-01.html

mattsmom · #8 02-05-2007, 10:18 PM

More trial news for those who are interested:

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.p...203-D3-02.html

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.p...202-B2-00.html

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=243952

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_articl...?storyid=62514

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6035526

nanandjim · #9 02-14-2007, 09:44 PM

I think that the jury is now deliberating, aren't they? I hope that he is found guilty. He viciously murdered this poor girl.

Masterj · #10 02-15-2007, 01:23 PM

Did anyone read his song lyrics? He is such a sick excuse for a human being. I know it is the defense's job, but they are making me want to puke. They are claiming that his bloody handprint or fingerprint on her wall was left after they were intimate while she had her period. And then they claimed it was mixed with some other "protein." Pathetic.

JDB · #11 02-15-2007, 02:00 PM

Verdict is in Guilty

nanandjim · #12 02-16-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDB

Verdict is in Guilty

Thanks, JDB! I hadn't heard!! I now need to see if I can find a link.

Okay, I found some links:

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=246982

http://www.courttv.com/trials/cortez/021507_ctv.html

mattsmom · #13 02-23-2007, 02:24 PM

I hope that Catherine and the Woods family can find peace now.

UM&AMWfan · #14 02-28-2007, 12:43 AM

WHY wasn't Paul Cortez convicted of 1st degree murder?????

I mean he practically decapitated poor Catherine and he was standing outside making obsessive phone calls to here and it only takes a second to form pre-meditation and he clearly had even longer than that so WHY wasn't he convicted of 1st degree murder????

mattsmom · #15 03-01-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UM&AMWfan

WHY wasn't Paul Cortez convicted of 1st degree murder?????

I mean he practically decapitated poor Catherine and he was standing outside making obsessive phone calls to here and it only takes a second to form pre-meditation and he clearly had even longer than that so WHY wasn't he convicted of 1st degree murder????

I don't know but I thought it could be a death penalty case. To my knowledge, that was never mentioned.

UM&AMWfan · #16 03-02-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattsmom

I don't know but I thought it could be a death penalty case. To my knowledge, that was never mentioned.

Yeah, New York has the death penaly again but AT THE VERY LEAST this conviction should mandate a life WITHOUT parole sentence so it should have been 1st degree murder considering Paul Cortez's stalking and near beheading of Catherine Woods!!

Can't someone answer here why it wasn't 1st degee murder?

Can the judge go higher than 25 years since it was such a horrific murder?

Masterj · #17 03-02-2007, 08:16 PM

He has become a quasi-celeb at Rikers too, which makes me even more sick. He holds physical training sessions and the gang members are learning how to do yoga.

UM&AMWfan · #18 03-02-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterj

He has become a quasi-celeb at Rikers too, which makes me even more sick. He holds physical training sessions and the gang members are learning how to do yoga.

How do you know this?

He hasn't been sentenced yet so he would still be at the county jail. People only go to the state prisons AFTER they have been sentenced.

Plus doesn't ANYONE here know why he isn't face life without parole and why he wasn't charged with first degree murder for all the stalking and near beheading he committed??

nanandjim · #19 03-02-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UM&AMWfan

...Can't someone answer here why it wasn't 1st degee murder?...

1st degree murder is reserved for those individuals who murder police officers. Everyone else is charged with 2nd degree murder. That's what happens in liberal states. I live in NY and can't stand it.

Masterj · #20 03-03-2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UM&AMWfan

How do you know this?

He hasn't been sentenced yet so he would still be at the county jail. People only go to the state prisons AFTER they have been sentenced.

Plus doesn't ANYONE here know why he isn't face life without parole and why he wasn't charged with first degree murder for all the stalking and near beheading he committed??

Maybe I am wrong on the jail he is at. I read an article on it in either the Post or Daily News.

UM&AMWfan · #21 03-04-2007, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanandjim

1st degree murder is reserved for those individuals who murder police officers. Everyone else is charged with 2nd degree murder. That's what happens in liberal states. I live in NY and can't stand it.

You can't be serious!!

That can't be because there have got to be people on New York's death row who have NOT murder police officers.

So, someone can hunt down somebody in New York and torture and behead them and NEVER get charged 1st degree murder and ALWAYS have a chance for parole????

NO WAY!