California Scientist Admits Faking Medical Diplomas in Murder Trial Testimony

The California scientist, who authorities say orchestrated the successful execution of a Danville resident by a hit man seven years ago, took the witness stand in Court in Burlington on Monday afternoon. Serhat D. Gumrukcu, 42, of Los Angeles, who has pleaded not guilty to a three-count federal indictment, admitted in court he had secured false university diplomas in Russia to show he was a medical doctor. The diplomas would show in a listing from the Ministry of Health in Russia. It was just one of several misrepresentations Gumrukcu testified about while telling his life story to the jury, which is now in its fifth week hearing testimony. The defense apparently brought up Gumrukcu’s fraud about his diplomas in an apparent effort to possibly take some winds away from the prosecution from introducing the information. It is unclear how long he will be on the stand before defense gets to cross examine the defendant.