Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Closing Arguments in Cortez Murder Trial
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 14, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 14, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Closing arguments were made in the trial of Paul Cortez, who is accused of murdering of his ex-girlfriend, Catherine Woods. Cortez's defense attorney Lauren Miranda tried again to suggest that the bloody thumb print, which matches Cortez, was from menstrual blood from lovemaking during Woods' period. She also reiterated that Woods' ex and roommate at the time, David Haughn (who, like Cortez,wears the same size as a bootprint found at the scene), could have been the killer. She called the yoga teacher a "gentle, caring, peaceful" man who had too much going for him to commit the crime.
Prosecutor Peter Casolaro was quick to discredit the defense's claim that the bloody thumb print claims. Casolaro explained to the jury that the blood was fresh (Woods had been violently slashed) and that the thumb had smeared blood from the scene; he added, "I can’t imagine any woman who would have a bloody menstrual handprint on her wall." Casolaro also noted that Cortez repeatedly called Woods on the day of her murder, but the calls stop right around the time of her death. From the AP:
Casolaro also cited circumstantial evidence against Cortez, including cell phone tower records that showed where he was when he made calls.
The prosecutor said Cortez repeatedly called Woods after 5 p.m. on Nov. 27, 2005, with short pauses between each call. After a 13-minute lapse, he started calling again. Casolaro said the lapse occurred when Cortez left home and took the subway to Woods' neighborhood around East 86th Street and First Avenue.
"You can tell where he is by the cell tower he's using," Casolaro says.
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."
The jury has the case now. Woods' mother told the Post, "We're very hopeful. We want him convicted."
Tagged
Catherine Woods
cell phone
crime
david
David Haughn
death
first avenue
murder
Paul Cortez
subway
tower records
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC's horse carriage industry facing potential extinction with Thursday Council vote
The mayor and City Council struck a deal to end the practice after years of protest.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 11:48 a.m. ET
Jersey City housing development deal expected to send money to schools, city government
The Canal Crossing project broke ground this week, with plans for housing, 20,000 square feet of commercial space and a public park.
By
Michael Sol Warren
News
Jersey City housing development deal expected to send money to schools, city government
The Canal Crossing project broke ground this week, with plans for housing, 20,000 square feet of commercial space and a public park.
By
Michael Sol Warren
The divide among Mamdani allies over reforming the NYPD
By
Elizabeth Kim
How NY Gov. Hochul, Bruce Blakeman would tackle rising electric, heat bills
By
Jon Campbell
Early Addition: Some NYC workers got up extremely early to commute from the Poconos
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .