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Kermit Gosnell guilty of three murders in late-term abortions | Kermit Gosnell guilty of three murders in late-term abortions |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Philadelphia doctor has been convicted of the first-degree murders of three babies delivered and killed with scissors in late-term abortions. | A Philadelphia doctor has been convicted of the first-degree murders of three babies delivered and killed with scissors in late-term abortions. |
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. | 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 also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of an adult patient who died of an overdose. | He was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of an adult patient who died of an overdose. |
The case was seized on by both sides in the US debate over abortion. | The case was seized on by both sides in the US debate over abortion. |
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Gosnell. | Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Gosnell. |
He performed thousands of abortions over a career spanning three decades. Officials said his medical practice earned him about $1.8m (£1.1m) a year. | He performed thousands of abortions over a career spanning three decades. Officials said his medical practice earned him about $1.8m (£1.1m) a year. |
'House of horrors' | 'House of horrors' |
Former staff members of the clinic testified that he had routinely performed illegal late-term abortions past Pennsylvania's 24-week limit. | Former staff members of the clinic testified that he had routinely performed illegal late-term abortions past Pennsylvania's 24-week limit. |
The trial heard how Gosnell would deliver babies alive then use scissors to "snip" - as he referred to it - their spines. | |
Among the untrained staff who helped to perform the terminations was Gosnell's wife, Pearl. She pleaded guilty to a number of charges and testified against him. | Among the untrained staff who helped to perform the terminations was Gosnell's wife, Pearl. She pleaded guilty to a number of charges and testified against him. |
The trial heard that one of the babies was almost 30 weeks when aborted, and had grown so large that Gosnell joked it could "walk to the bus". A second foetus was said to have clung to life for about 20 minutes. | The trial heard that one of the babies was almost 30 weeks when aborted, and had grown so large that Gosnell joked it could "walk to the bus". A second foetus was said to have clung to life for about 20 minutes. |
A third was born in a toilet and seen moving before a clinic employee severed its spinal cord, according to testimony. | A third was born in a toilet and seen moving before a clinic employee severed its spinal cord, according to testimony. |
Gosnell's lawyer, Jack McMahon, had argued that none of the foetuses was born alive. Any movement was posthumous twitching or spasms, he said. | Gosnell's lawyer, Jack McMahon, had argued that none of the foetuses was born alive. Any movement was posthumous twitching or spasms, he said. |
The attorney branded prosecutors "racist" for pursuing his client, who is black. Gosnell did not testify and no witnesses were called in his defence. | |
Prosecutors said Gosnell had run a filthy "house of horrors" with unqualified staff - including those who administered a lethal dose of sedatives to Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old refugee from Nepal. | |
Defence lawyers had argued the abortion patient's 2009 death was a result of unforeseen complications. | Defence lawyers had argued the abortion patient's 2009 death was a result of unforeseen complications. |
Prosecutor Ed Cameron said to Gosnell during closing arguments: "Are you human? To med these women up and stick knives in the backs of babies?" | Prosecutor Ed Cameron said to Gosnell during closing arguments: "Are you human? To med these women up and stick knives in the backs of babies?" |
"He created an assembly line with no regard for these women whatsoever," Mr Cameron had said. | "He created an assembly line with no regard for these women whatsoever," Mr Cameron had said. |
Severed feet | Severed feet |
Officials said a raid of the clinic, in a poor section of West Philadelphia, had turned up bags and bottles of foetal remains, including severed feet. | Officials said a raid of the clinic, in a poor section of West Philadelphia, had turned up bags and bottles of foetal remains, including severed feet. |
The clinic also had bloodstained furniture, dirty medical tools and cats roaming the premises. | The clinic also had bloodstained furniture, dirty medical tools and cats roaming the premises. |
During the trial, Judge Jeffrey Minehart threw out three other murder charges involving aborted foetuses. | During the trial, Judge Jeffrey Minehart threw out three other murder charges involving aborted foetuses. |
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 hear evidence on whether he should face the death penalty. | |
The trial became a cudgel for those on both sides of the US abortion debate. | |
Anti-abortion activists said the case exposed the grim reality of the procedure, and accused media of ignoring the case because of liberal bias. | |
But abortion rights groups warned it showed what would happen if laws on such procedures were tightened, driving desperate women to unregulated backstreet clinics. | |
The case also exposed failings by Pennsylvania's health authorities. | The case also exposed failings by Pennsylvania's 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 more than two years ago. | 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 more than two years ago. |
Two top state health department officials were sacked, and Pennsylvania imposed tougher rules for clinics. | Two top state health department officials were sacked, and Pennsylvania imposed tougher rules for clinics. |