Five jurors in the federal trial of former Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht say most of the jurors favored acquitting Wecht on most of the 41 fraud and theft counts Wecht faces.
A judge declared a mistrial April 8 after the 11-member jury deadlocked. A new trial is scheduled to begin May 27.
The jurors tell KDKA Radio host Marty Griffin today that jurors at one point were unanimous for a not guilty verdict on three counts of mail fraud for allegedly overbilling area district attorneys for mileage expenses.
By the time they deadlocked, the jury favored acquitting Wecht 8-3 on those counts and 24 more wire fraud charges. The jurors say they favored convicting Wecht, 6-5, on 14 wire fraud and theft counts.
The jurors believe Wecht should not be retried on charges he used his former Allegheny County coroner's staff to benefit his private practice.
Larger text
Smaller text
Print this article
E-mail this article
