03-06-2009, 05:03 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-06-2009, 05:06 AM by Adele Edisen.)
All charges against Cyril Wecht have been dropped
Jerry Policoff
It has been a long ordeal for my friend Cyril Wecht, but I am so happy that it is finally over. This is a case that should never have been allowed to go to trial. This was prosecutorial and judicial misconduct at its worst. The fact that Mary Beth Buchanan continues to assert that a crime was committed just underscores what a disgrace to the bar she is. Dozens of prominent members of the bar have decried this prosecution including Richard Thornburg, a Republican and a former Pa. Governor and U.S. Attorney General. The Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers attempted to investigate why the case was brought and met with a total refusal by Buchanan to cooperate. If you did not know it, Buchanan was a trusted lieutenant to former Attorney General Roberto Gonzales, spending much of her time in Washington helping Gonzales determine, among other things, which U.S. Attorneys to fire. She is infamous as one of those U.S. Attorneys who only managed to indict Democrats.
I am convinced that this prosecution was hatched in Washington, and I will probably write about it because people deserve to know why Cyril was subjected to this charade of an indictment.
Jerry Policoff
Charges against Cyril H. Wecht to be dismissed
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/images/200..._d_160.jpg
Bob Donaldson/Post-Gazette
U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced at a Tuesday morning press conference that her office is dropping prosecution of former Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht.
U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan this morning filed a motion to dismiss all of the charges against former Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cyril H. Wecht.
In a news conference, the prosecutor said that a ruling by U.S. District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin last month suppressing crucial evidence in the case severely hampered any chance her office would have to move forward.
Though the charges filed against Dr. Wecht more than three years ago have been dismissed, Ms. Buchanan said she still believes that a crime was committed.
"However, in our society everyone is innocent until proven guilty," she said. "As we stand here today, he's still innocent.
"If I could have a do-over, I'd still bring the case."
Judge McLaughlin found in a 55-page opinion that search warrants filed in the case were too general. Specifically, the warrants related to boxes of private autopsy files that were found in Dr. Wecht's private offices, as well as a laptop computer used by his administrative assistant. Both were found to be deficient.
The judge wrote in his opinion that had a supporting affidavit of probable cause been attached to the warrant applications, the problem would have been resolved.
Ms. Buchanan admitted that a mistake was made by not attaching the paperwork, but she continued, it was left out so as not to reveal too much information about the ongoing investigation.
"This is something I doubt will ever happen again in the Western District of Pennsylvania."
Dr. Wecht was indicted in January 2006 on charges that he misused his public office for private gain. His trial ended in a hung jury last year.
Paula Reed Ward can be reached at pward@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2620.
First published on June 2, 2009 at 9:24 am
Read more: "Charges against Cyril H. Wecht to be dismissed" - http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09153/9744...HIvjChCy&A
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09153/974440-455.stm
Adele
Jerry Policoff
It has been a long ordeal for my friend Cyril Wecht, but I am so happy that it is finally over. This is a case that should never have been allowed to go to trial. This was prosecutorial and judicial misconduct at its worst. The fact that Mary Beth Buchanan continues to assert that a crime was committed just underscores what a disgrace to the bar she is. Dozens of prominent members of the bar have decried this prosecution including Richard Thornburg, a Republican and a former Pa. Governor and U.S. Attorney General. The Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers attempted to investigate why the case was brought and met with a total refusal by Buchanan to cooperate. If you did not know it, Buchanan was a trusted lieutenant to former Attorney General Roberto Gonzales, spending much of her time in Washington helping Gonzales determine, among other things, which U.S. Attorneys to fire. She is infamous as one of those U.S. Attorneys who only managed to indict Democrats.
I am convinced that this prosecution was hatched in Washington, and I will probably write about it because people deserve to know why Cyril was subjected to this charade of an indictment.
Jerry Policoff
Charges against Cyril H. Wecht to be dismissed
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/images/200..._d_160.jpg
Bob Donaldson/Post-Gazette
U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced at a Tuesday morning press conference that her office is dropping prosecution of former Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht.
U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan this morning filed a motion to dismiss all of the charges against former Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cyril H. Wecht.
In a news conference, the prosecutor said that a ruling by U.S. District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin last month suppressing crucial evidence in the case severely hampered any chance her office would have to move forward.
Though the charges filed against Dr. Wecht more than three years ago have been dismissed, Ms. Buchanan said she still believes that a crime was committed.
"However, in our society everyone is innocent until proven guilty," she said. "As we stand here today, he's still innocent.
"If I could have a do-over, I'd still bring the case."
Judge McLaughlin found in a 55-page opinion that search warrants filed in the case were too general. Specifically, the warrants related to boxes of private autopsy files that were found in Dr. Wecht's private offices, as well as a laptop computer used by his administrative assistant. Both were found to be deficient.
The judge wrote in his opinion that had a supporting affidavit of probable cause been attached to the warrant applications, the problem would have been resolved.
Ms. Buchanan admitted that a mistake was made by not attaching the paperwork, but she continued, it was left out so as not to reveal too much information about the ongoing investigation.
"This is something I doubt will ever happen again in the Western District of Pennsylvania."
Dr. Wecht was indicted in January 2006 on charges that he misused his public office for private gain. His trial ended in a hung jury last year.
Paula Reed Ward can be reached at pward@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2620.
First published on June 2, 2009 at 9:24 am
Read more: "Charges against Cyril H. Wecht to be dismissed" - http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09153/9744...HIvjChCy&A
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09153/974440-455.stm
Adele