PITTSBURGH - The government today produced the most compelling argument to date in the Cyril Wecht trial indicating a body-trading agreement between Dr. Wecht and Carlow University. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen S. Stallings produced a surprise witness, Boris Karloff, to testify that he regularly transported bodies to Carlow at Dr. Wecht's behest."It was just a friendly business proposition, wasn't it Cyril?" Karloff said with eerie assurance to a stunned courtroom. "Cyril and I go way back, don't we Cyril?" Karloff said with a crooked smile, all the while glaring at Wecht. The former coroner squirmed and seemed genuinely startled by Karloff's presence.
"And where I got the bodies is nobody's business," Karloff volunteered. Stallings tried to press him on this point, but Karloff cut him off. "Nobody's business," he said sternly, glaring at Stallings.
Wecht's wife Sigrid seemed especially agitated by Karloff's presence. She whispered to Wecht, "Cyril, you promised me you would have nothing more to do with that horrid man. He scares me so, Cyril." Wecht clutched her hand. "I promise, dear, when this is over, I'll have no further dealings with him. I'll make sure of that, no matter what I have to do."
