The federal government is prosecuting former Allegheny County coroner Cyril H. Wecht on facing 41 counts including wire and mail fraud and theft of honest services.

The first trial began Jan. 28 in U.S. District Court and went to the jury on March 17. But on April 8, the jury announced it was deadlocked and U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab declared a mistrial. Dr. Wecht's attorneys have filed an appeal, which is pending with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

In their case, federal prosecutors contended that Dr. Wecht misused his public office for private gain, improperly availing himself of the staff and resources of the coroner's office to run errands and aid him in his personal life and private pathology business.

Dr. Wecht's principal attorneys, Jerry McDevitt and Mark Rush, have maintained their client's innocence.

Below are links to background on the case, including a timeline with links to Post-Gazette coverage, bios of key participants, and court documents.

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• "Some jurors skeptical of case against Wecht; new trial set for May 27," April 10, 2008

• "Wecht lawyers ask judge to step aside," April 11, 2008

• "Feds say they will retry Wecht on all 41 counts," April 11, 2008

• "FBI contacts with Wecht jurors criticized," April 12, 2008

• "Wecht lawyers call a second trial double jeopardy, ask for dismissal," April 15, 2008

• "Wecht prosecutors may seek out-of-town jury," April 16, 2008

• "Members of both parties petition for end to Wecht case," April 16, 2008

• "Wecht judge says he won't step aside," April 17, 2008

• "Jury in Wecht case favored conviction by, 6-5, juror says," April 17, 2008

• "Neither side relishing retrial in Wecht case," April 20, 2008

• "Wecht lawyers seek dismissal," April 22, 2008

"Media to appeal post-trial rulings in Wecht case," April 23, 2008

• "Wecht jurors surprised prosecutors seek retrial," April 29, 2008

• "Judge won't dismiss on double-jeopardy claim in Wecht trial," April 30, 2008

• "Motion on Wecht jurors' names filed," May 6, 2008

• "Court puts indefinite stay on Wecht trial," May 9, 2008

• "Oral arguments scheduled in Cyril Wecht appeal," May 16, 2008

• "Judge declines motion to acquit Wecht," May 24, 2008

• "DOJ must clarify decision to prosecute Pittsburgh coroner," July 2, 2008

• "Wecht prosecutor leaving U.S. attorney's office," July 11, 2008

• "Appeals court sets Aug. 4 for Wecht argument," July 19, 2008

• "Wecht jurors' names must be made public," Aug. 2, 2008

• "Wecht's attorneys claim double jeopardy," Aug. 4, 2008

• "Judges hear Wecht oppose retrial," Aug. 5, 2008

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• Daily trial log; day-by-day listing of witnesses, key testimony and court activity

Week One

• "'Wecht details' described to jury," with audio reports, Jan. 29

• "Cadavers wrongly went to Carlow, former aide says in Wecht case," with audio report, Jan. 30

• "More Wecht staffers testify about go-fer work," with audio reports, Jan. 31

• "More Wecht staffers say errands impaired work," with audio reports, Feb. 1

Week Two

• "Witness: Private autopsies done on county time," Feb. 5, 2008

• Former employee continues testimony in Wecht trial, Feb. 6, 2008

• "Wecht's private correspondence handled on county time, aide says," Feb. 7. 2008

• "Wecht trial continues; Las Vegas tape introduced," Feb. 8, 2008

Week Three

• "Wecht billed clients for phony travel, secretary tells jury," Feb. 12, 2008

• "Power problem closes courthouse, postpones Wecht trial," Feb. 12, 2008

• "Office assistants testify in Wecht case," Feb. 14, 2008

Week Four

• "Aide details phony billings in Wecht case," with audio report, Feb. 20, 2008

• "Prosecutors examine Wecht's private practice," Feb. 22, 2008

Week Five

• "Defense strikes back in Wecht trial," with audio reports, Feb. 26, 2008

• "Wecht trial targets faxes," Feb. 27, 2008

• "Wecht ex-secretary wraps up testimony," with audio report, Feb. 28

• "Wecht's ex-chief aide takes witness stand," Feb. 29, 2008

Week Six

• "Trial explores ex-coroner's cadaver deal with Carlow," March 4, 2008

• "Wecht trial session canceled today," March 4, 2008

• "Wecht lawyers take knife to cadaver claims," March 6, 2008

• "Former Carlow president denies Wecht deal existed," March 7, 2008

Week Seven

• "Former Carlow president questioned in Wecht trial," March 11, 2008

• "Wecht defense rests case, calls no witnesses," March 12, 2008

• "Judge denies Wecht motion for acquittal," March 13, 2008

Week Eight

• "Long Wecht trial heads to jury," March 16, 2008

• "Inside the Wecht case," March 16, 2008

• "Final arguments made in case against Wecht," March 18, 2008

• "Wecht jury still deliberating," March 20, 2008

• "Still no verdict in Wecht trial," March 21, 2008

Week Nine

• "Wecht jury begins sixth day of deliberations in federal court," March 27, 2008

• "Wecht jury gets long weekend," March 28, 2007

Week Ten

• "Sick juror in Wecht trial causes early recess," April 2, 2008

• "Wecht lawyer objects to ill juror's dismissal," April 3, 2008

• "Wecht jury deadlocked; judge says to go on," April 4, 2008

• "Wecht defense calls for mistrial," April 5, 2008

Week Eleven

• "Could a hung jury force second Wecht trial?," April 7, 2008

• "Wecht jurors entering 11th day of deliberations," April 8, 2008

• "Jury deadlocked; judge declares mistrial / Many questions surround Wecht retrial," April 9, 2008

• "Wecht supporters criticize prosecution decision to retry case," April 9, 2008

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• Timeline with links to Post-Gazette coverage

• Key figures in the case

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• Original indictment, Jan. 20, 2006
• Revised indictment, Jan. 7, 2008
• 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab may stay on the case
• Court documents on the disciplinary record of FBI Special Agent Bradley W. Orsini