June 10, 2009

TOWANDA --Blazej Kot entered the Bradford County Courthouse for his extradition hearing in an orange jump suit this afternoon, exactly one week after his wife, 28-year-old Caroline Coffey, was found dead in Taughannock State Park, in Ithaca.

The Bradford County District Attorney made it clear, the state of Pennsylvania wants Kot to cooperate so his trial in New York can begin. But instead of accepting his extradition, Kot's appointed lawyer says his client's arrest in Pennsylvania was illegal, and Kot should be free to return to New York on his own and turn himself in.

"They prevented his parents from seeing him in the hospital, they prevented his sister and brother in law from seeing him at the hospital until they obtained an attorney," said Joseph Joch, Kot's appointed Attorney, "they [Kot’s family] got me to fight for that right. Then they made the arrest at 3am without telling me, his council, and then arraigned him in front of judge Wilcox without telling me, his council."

"None of that information was given to me a head of time," said Daniel Barrett, Bradford County District Attorney, "I don't know the bases that the attorney is making those statements. I simply don't know anything about that and it's not really a significant issue to the Bradford County prosecutors eventually he will go to New York State and New York State will have to handle this case."

Kot's attorney has no concerns of Kot trying to flee to his native country, New Zealand. Kot's extradition hearing will be scheduled within the next two weeks.