1.
Mother said Josh Powell threatened her
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court ruled Friday that a prominent Pennsylvania pathologist can be retried on charges that he used his office as coroner for personal gain.
Dr. Cyril Wecht's first trial ended in a hung jury and his lawyers argued that the judge bungled the mistrial, so a second trial would be double jeopardy. But a three-judge appellate panel rejected their motion to dismiss the charges, ordering instead that a different judge should preside if Wecht is retried, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Wecht served as Allegheny County coroner from 1970 to 1980 and again from 1996 to 2006. During his first term in the elected position, he was acquitted of state charges involving misuse of his office, although he had to pay a large civil penalty.
"The government is pleased that the Court of Appeals accepted our position and reached the conclusion that the double jeopardy clause does not preclude a retrial in this case," U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said in a statement.
Wecht has a high profile because of his work as a consultant and his books and television appearances.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Additional Top News Stories | |
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (UPI) --
A woman who says she had an affair with President John F. Kennedy wrote that she didn't feel at the time she was "invading the Kennedys' marriage."
|
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10 (UPI) --
Pop icon Madonna says she "wasn't happy" after rapper M.I.A. flipped her middle finger at a camera during their Super Bowl halftime show.
|
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (UPI) --
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the construction of two new nuclear reactors, the first to be built in the United States since 1978.
|
BIRMINGHAM, England, Feb. 10 (UPI) --
A British company said it is opening salons across England dedicated to the tattooing the scalps of bald men to make it look like they have short hair.
|
| Stories | Photos | People | Comments |
View Caption
