Update: Gosnell gets life in prison
Dr. Kermit Gosnell, a former abortion doctor in Philadelphia, was found guilty of three out of four counts of first-degree murder today, and could face the death penalty. Gosnell was reportedly known for performing late-term abortions, and allegedly (alleged by prosecutors) delivered babies alive, then killed them by cutting their spinal cords with scissors.
Vince Lattanzio of NBC Philadelphia reports:
According to court observers, as the verdict was read by the jury forman, Gosnell didn’t react at first. Once the full charges had been announced, he shook his head from side-to-side, trying to make eye contact with members of the jury.
The jury of seven women and five men weighed a total of 263 crimes against Gosnell with the most serious being four counts of first-degree murder.
Gosnell was acquitted of the fourth first-degree murder charge, which involved an aborted fetus, and of a third-degree murder charge, but was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the overdose death of former patient Karnamaya Mongar, who was 41. Mongar died after being given pain killers and anesthesia during an abortion procedure in 2009.
The entire jury reportedly consisted of people who either said they were pro-choice or had no opinion at all on a woman’s right to choose.
Sentencing is scheduled to place next Tuesday.