Welcome back. Now if you
are a fan of whodunit crime
dramas or courtroom type
investigations. No doubt you
have seen my next guest at
talking about doctor Cyril
wecht who was formerly the
county coroner for Allegheny
County in western
Pennsylvania. That includes
the city of Pittsburgh doctor
wecht has a new book called
the life and deaths Cyril
wecht America's most
controversial forensic
pathologist and we're pleased
to have him with us tonight
doctor wecht what do you want
folks to get from this book.
I hope that people will
learn from the book what is
foreign what is the role of
forensic science. How does it
apply. So the administration
of justice in both the
criminal and so feels what is
way in which society should
look upon criminal justice and
the administration Bureau and
to be aware. The fact that
even though we live in this
great Democratic society that
a lot of terrible things it
can be. Accomplished and or
and have been done by people
in powerful positions this a
concerning U.S. attorney Ernie
and this state attorney
general. So these are some of
the things that I hope people
will come to take away from
the book.
Doctor wecht what would you
say the primary misconception
about forensic pathology is.
misconceptions are one. had to
foreign is an absolute signs
and there's only one for their
course that's not true. The
only absolute signs their own
medicine altogether we flew
the of all she is so DNA.
Medicine is not says it's
chemistry or mathematics there
can be different opinions
number 2 it just a is
expressed by usually law
enforcement this returning
prosecution that is not me
that it is a correct.
Presentation that doesn't mean
it has been conspiratorially
but we can try it could be in
up to 2. Subconscious bias
whatever the reason is that if
you look at the cases in which
I've been able the cases in
which my testimony has
resulted in in a tin you may
one into the 80 degrees
different from that which has
been expressed going in and
you understand it's not
because of any rise it was an
injury on my words like to
think I'm confident and
articulate but it's different
to be expressed in March a
concession. I also like people
take away with the fact that
the forensic Sciences are not
always and buys that they're
not always involved in a case
without a preconceived
question is a ritual the
position that they hold
especially relationship to law
enforcement agencies with whom
they work all the time. So
these are some of the things I
would like to have people
understand also by significant
capsule as dozens of my cases
around the world will get a
better idea of a justice can
be served and how it would
have been sporty it were not
for import from the hosts I
think and I had imagined huge
JFK assasination is the most
important case you've ever
worked out of a great yes
that's correct might just both
the president that state.
down in broad daylight in
the 4th largest city in the
country because of the way in
which was and the orange
Commission report.
been had done so very
actively involved in chairman
of National organization
committee against political
assassinations for us is that
programs for being and I have
to supply 3 under oath on this
case before a federal judge in
Washington DC when I was by
the search started to bear a
son trying to gain access to
the which the judge so that
the government injected too
and said they were quote that
killed freezes over. testified
for 4, 5 hours before the
Commission 75 and then it just
right before the House Select
Committee assassinations 78
giving minority overly but
called a there is competent
forensic pathologist who are
well strongly critical of the
autopsy and the way things
were handled their and that
religion is somehow work
Commission got it right what
do you think that was Sir
about the other 8 why they
went the way they did on that.
think requires my
colleagues would be playing
ball in various governmental
they're really bias of the
tree and willing to go the
government also on I know with
competence first of all just
pointing out there's no way in
the world that if you gave
them another case it with all
of these things they would not
be extremely critical. You
know it's up to his done by
have to experience top of
career naval. It's all just
would done a gunshot their
entire they made on nations of
the head injuries were very
different from the
observations made by more than
a dozen.
Doctors working at parking
with the cousin was taken
that's a big shot on sight of
22nd and then when they were
confronted with this just
between the timing of this is
going the time the shooting
the alleged murder weapon, the
amount time they came up with
a single there one condition,
7 wins in 2 men and they are
turning sync up and down right
break into a large loans in a
6 per court big boned Jackson
like over time probably and
you have an emergency with the
way my wanted to have to set
single bullet theory that is a
on without a single board
Terry you cannot have a soul
is asked.
I think people reading the
book will get a sense that
someone such yourself who has
spent a career making waves in
ruffling some feathers we'll
end up getting pushed back
what's the advice she would
give people reading this book
and having those kinds of
situations happen to them.
I want to like a great
philosopher. We're showing is
to be rather a school but I
would say along with question
of just said that people
that you have to stand up for
your maintaining the not cower
in the face of adversity. And
especially if you're going to
speak out on missions question
you know most people don't get
involved in spat all right
doctor Cyril wecht.
Author of the book the life
we appreciate your time
tonight right I thank you very
much for
courtesy Jaime on the
program ended pleasure they
will talk in some form and