PITTSBURGH -- The wife of a Mt. Lebanon oral surgeon who's accused of assaulting female patients testified in her husband's defense Thursday at the Allegheny County Courthouse.
Prosecutors claim Dr. Robert Boyda fondled or sexually assaulted 17 patients ranging in age from 13 to 58 as they recovered from dental surgery in his offices in Robinson and Scott townships.
Christine Boyda, who worked as her husband's office manager, was called as a witness by defense attorney Bill Difenderfer.
Chanel 4 Action News' Sheldon Ingram reported that under cross-examination, Christine Boyda testified that the mother of one of the patients complained to her husband as early as 2002 about inappropriate behavior. She testified that Robert Boyda then went home and talked to his wife about the complaint.
Earlier this week, Boyda's attorney called expert witnesses to testify that the drugs used in general anesthesia can cause sexual dreams, hallucinations and out-of-body experiences.
Also this week, Judge Anthony Mariani temporarily moved the trial to Boyda's office on Cochran Road in Scott Township to see how it's laid out and how procedures are done there. Difenderfer and prosecutor Janet Necessary accompanied the judge to the office and questioned a witness there.
The defense tried to raise doubts about whether sex assaults could have happened in such a small space while employees and visitors were only a few steps away.
However two former employees testified they walked in on Boyda assaulting patients and even called a meeting with Boyda's wife to tell her Boyda was "back to the same-old, same-old" and "in with the girls alone."
A number of former patients also testified to waking from anesthesia to find Boyda assaulting them.
Previous Stories: - May 5, 2009: Judge Moves Sex Trial Into Accused Mt. Lebo Surgeon's Office
- May 5, 2009: Ex-Employee: Surgeon Accused Of Assault 'Back To The Same-Old'
- April 30, 2009: Teen, Ex-Employee Testify To Mt. Lebo Surgeon's Groping
- April 28, 2009: Surgeon Sex Trial -- Student Describes Waking To Molestation
- April 27, 2009: Patient: Mt. Lebo Oral Surgeon Molested Me, Said 'Shh, It's OK'
- May 9, 2008: Witnesses Testify Against Mt. Lebanon Dentist On Sex Charges
- February 1, 2008: Mt. Lebanon Dentist Surrenders On New Sex Charges Involving Patients
- January 31, 2008: Women Claim Assault In Dentist Chair; A Dream, Says Lawyer
Copyright 2009 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
