Doc Convicted Of Poisoning Wife With Cyanide Wants New Trial

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A new filing spells out reasons a former University of Pittsburgh medical researcher wants a new trial in the cyanide poisoning of his wife.

The Superior Court appeal filed Wednesday on behalf of 68-year-old Robert Ferrante was first reported Thursday by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which objected when the initial appeal was filed under seal in February.

Ferrante was convicted of first-degree murder in November 2014 of the death of Dr. Autumn Klein.

Prosecutors say Ferrante killed his 41-year-old wife in 2013 by lacing her energy drink with cyanide.

Ferrante's attorney argues there wasn't enough evidence to convict him and that 89 search warrants in the case were overly broad. But primarily he contests the reliability of lab results that concluded Klein was poisoned.

The district attorney's office says the claims "have no merit."

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