Apr 8, 2008 11:00 am US/Eastern
Mistrial In Celebrity Coroner Case
PITTSBURGH (CBS) ―
After 7 weeks of testimony and jury deliberations entering its third week, the judge has declared a mistrial in the fraud trial of Dr. Cyril Wecht.
The jury, made up of six women and five men, said it is hopelessly deadlocked and cannot reach a unanimous verdict, reported CBS station KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.
Late last week, the jury told U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab that it was at an impasse after nine days of pouring over the evidence.
Judge Schwab sent the jury back to talk some more but the extra time apparently did nothing to change the jury's mind.
Wecht faced 41 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud and theft from an organization receiving federal funds.
Wecht gained fame by inquiring into the deaths of well-known figures including Elvis Presley, JonBenet Ramsey and Vincent Foster.
Prosecutors argued Wecht used the staff and equipment at the Allegheny County Coroner's office to do work for his private pathology practice.
Prosecutors said Wecht had county employees send invoices and faxes relating to his private practice from the coroner's office on county time.
Wecht was also accused of defrauding his private clients by inflating airfare and charging for limo rides he never took.
The government presented 44 witnesses over 22 days of testimony.
Dr. Wecht's defense rested without calling any witnesses at all, saying the charges were minor administrative issues that didn't rise to the level of federal crimes.
Wecht will be retried beginning Tuesday May 27.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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