Back To Court For Gosnell
HARRISBURG (CBS) - A West Philadelphia abortion doctor charged with multiple counts of murder will be back in court today. Kermit Gosnell is expected to arrive with a new attorney after being ordered to hire one last week.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers have opened hearings into how Gosnell's abuses went on for years without regulation.
Two Senate committees held a joint hearing during which members heard prosecutors from the Philadelphia DA's office give graphic details of the abortion clinic's abuses. They also heard tales of two state agencies that repeatedly ignored complaints and refused to act even when they had evidence.
DA Seth Williams says state employees in those agencies have "lawyered up" and assistant DA Christine Wechsler says workers in at least one of those agencies still aren't cooperating.
"We don't have a working relationship with the Department of State because they are represented. And to the extent that we've needed answers or made phone calls, they're not returned because of that representation," Wechsler said. "So that's been a problem for us daily."
The chairs of the Senate committees vow more hearings and say they'll issue subpoenas if necessary.
Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio
