Defense Rests Quickly in Murder Trial of West Philadelphia Abortion Doctor
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Closing arguments are scheduled to begin next week in the murder trial of West Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, following the decision by the defense today not to call a single witness, including the doctor himself.
The defense rested today, with defense attorney Jack McMahon apparently relying on his cross-examination of prosecution witnesses and his closing arguments to get the doctor acquitted.
Gosnell is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of third-degree murder; four other cases of first-degree murder were dismissed yesterday by Judge Jeffrey Minehart (see related story) after McMahon said that insufficient evidence was presented by prosecutors in those four cases.
Gosnell was charged with seven counts of murdering babies born alive and viable, and with being responsible for the death of a woman who died following an abortion at his West Philadelphia clinic.
The jury is expected to begin its deliberations sometime next week.
