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Kermit Gosnell guilty of three murders in late-term abortions Kermit Gosnell guilty of three murders in late-term abortions
(34 minutes later)
A Philadelphia doctor has been found guilty of the murders of three babies born alive after late-term abortions. A Philadelphia doctor has been found guilty of the murders of three babies born alive and killed with scissors after late-term abortions.
Dr Kermit Gosnell was acquitted on another charge of killing a fourth baby, but found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of an adult patient. Dr Kermit Gosnell, 72, was acquitted on another charge of killing a fourth baby, who let out a whimper before he cut its neck, prosecutors said.
He was accused of snipping the spines of babies after abortions. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. But he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of an adult patient who died of an overdose.
The trial heard how the 72-year-old delivered babies alive and used scissors to sever their spines. The case became a flashpoint in the US debate over abortion.
The baby whose death Gosnell was cleared of let out a whimper before he cut its neck, prosecutors say. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Gosnell.
Prosecutors argued that Gosnell had run a filthy, out-of-date clinic with unqualified staff - including the ones that administered sedative drugs to 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar, a refugee from Nepal. 'House of horrors'
Mongar died of an overdose at the clinic. Defence lawyers had argued it was the result of unforeseen complications. Former staff members of the clinic testified that Gosnell had routinely performed illegal late-term abortions past Pennsylvania's 24-week limit, delivering babies alive then using scissors to sever their spines.
Prosecutors argued that Gosnell had run a filthy, out-of-date "house of horrors" with unqualified staff - including the ones that administered a lethal dose of sedative drugs to 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar, a refugee from Nepal.
Defence lawyers had argued it was the result of unforeseen complications.
Prosecutor Ed Cameron said to Gosnell during closing arguments in the six-week trial: "Are you human?
"To med these women up and stick knives in the backs of babies?"
The jury was earlier deadlocked on two counts against Gosnell, but did not specify which of the multiple counts.The jury was earlier deadlocked on two counts against Gosnell, but did not specify which of the multiple counts.
After the verdict was read on Monday, Gosnell appeared calm, the Associated Press news agency reports.After the verdict was read on Monday, Gosnell appeared calm, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The jury will return next week to begin to hear evidence on whether Gosnell should get the death penalty.The jury will return next week to begin to hear evidence on whether Gosnell should get the death penalty.
The gruesome trial became a cudgel for those on both sides of the deeply divisive abortion debate in the US.
Anti-choice advocates argued that the case exposed the true nature of abortion.
But pro-choice groups said it showed what would happen if abortion regulations were tightened, driving desperate women to unregulated backstreet clinics.
Midway through the six-week trial, anti-abortion activists accused the US media of ignoring the case because of liberal bias.
The case also proved a scandal for Pennsylvania health authorities.
Officials had failed to conduct routine inspections of all of its abortion clinics for 15 years by the time Gosnell's operation was raided and closed down.
In the wake of the raid, two top state health department officials were fired, and Pennsylvania imposed tougher rules for clinics.