The work of a state police forensics expert who killed himself amid allegations he lied about having college degrees withstood yet another legal challenge Wednesday.
Baltimore County Circuit Judge Kathleen Cox rejected a new trial for James Kulbicki, 50, of Baltimore, who was found guilty of murdering his lover, Gina Neuslein, in 1993.
“We?re very happy the judge wrote a very well reasoned thoughtful opinion,” said Baltimore County State?s Attorney Scott Shellenberger. “We?re happy any time someone convicted of murder stays in prison.”
Kulbicki fought for a new trial by challenging the work of Joseph Kopera, the state?s firearms-identification expert who lied about his educational background at trial.
“The judge addressed the Kopera issue head on and she ruled the untruth about his background was not material to the case,” Shellenberger said. “Where he went to college and what degrees he had really had nothing to do with his expertise. The expertise he learned on the job formed his opinion.”
Cox?s ruling is the second time Kopera?s work has withstood a legal challenge.
In October, a Baltimore City judge rejected a similar challenge to a 1989 murder conviction.
Kopera, 61, had testified in hundreds of cases in every county in Maryland. The expert claimed to have degrees from the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Maryland, when he did not.
He was under investigation at the time of his March 1 death, caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Perry Hall home.
Neuslein?s body was found around 7:45 a.m. Jan. 10, 1993 at Gunpowder State Park.
Police learned early in the investigation that Kulbicki was having an extramarital affair with her, Cox?s ruling states.
Kopera was one of several experts who testified at Kulbicki?s trial, in which prosecutors argued Kulbicki had the motive and opportunity for the killing ? and that physical evidence tied him to the crime scene.
Kulbicki?s attorney could not be reached for comment.
