PITTSBURGH -- The federal trial against former Allegheny County coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht entered its sixth week of testimony on Monday, with allegations of bodies being bartered for laboratory space at Carlow University.

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Video: Watch Bob Mayo's Report On The Trial

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Federal prosecutors have said that Wecht, 76, illegally used county workers to cut costs in his private practice, which grossed nearly $9 million from 1997 through 2004.

On Monday, the prosecution focused on accusations that Wecht diverted unclaimed bodies from the coroner's office to Carlow in exchange for lab space that could be used for his private business.

Joe Dominick, Wecht's former second in command at the coroner's office, testified under a grant of immunity and confirmed document after document in 16 cases of bodies being sent to Carlow.

In many of those cases, a form for sending bodies for embalming at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science had the "PIMS" name crossed out and Carlow's name filled in, WTAE Channel 4's Bob Mayo reported.

Even though the Carlow paperwork said the bodies were autopsied, most of the official death certificates said they were not, Mayo reported.

Under cross-examination from defense attorney Jerry McDevitt, Dominick admitted to some uncertainty about when Wecht told him the bodies would be going to Carlow to educate students. Dominick said it could have been nearly a year after Wecht's announcement of a working relationship with the university.

The defense intended that testimony to cast doubt on the prosecution's claim that it was a deal of bodies being traded for lab space, instead of an educational program.

"He never said the transporting of bodies was part and parcel of the agreement, did he?" McDevitt asked

"No," Dominick answered.

"Dr. Wecht didn't tell you to ever shortchange the unclaimed cadaver procedures, did he?" McDevitt asked.

"No," Dominick answered.

Dominick testified that the coroner's office required a family's request or permission in order for a body or its organs to go to other established programs.

The prosecutors' questions suggested there was a different standard for sending bodies from the coroner's office to Wecht's program at Carlow.

"Were you given any instructions about documenting the movement of the bodies?" Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Stallings asked.

"No," Dominick said.

"About getting permission from next of kin or notifying next of kin?" Stallings asked.

"No," Dominick said.

Testimony will continue on Tuesday.

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