Heated Exchanges At Trial Of Philadelphia Abortion Doctor Charged With Murder
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There were sharp exchanges and an Assistant Medical Examiner rips a defense exhibit from an easel during testimony Thursday in the murder trial of abortion Doctor Kermit Gosnell.
Gosnell, who has pleaded not guilty, is charged with murdering seven babies born alive and with the death of 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar, who died during an abortion in November of 2009 (see related story).
Assistant Medical Examiner Gary Collins ruled the death an accident nine months later, long after the autopsy and final toxicology results. But four months after that, as a grand jury was investigating, Doctor Collins ruled the death a homicide as a result of an overdose of the narcotic demerol.
And as defense attorney Jack McMahon challenged Doctor Collins, listing the information he had when he made the initial finding, the Doctor shot out of the witness chair, ripped the defense exhibit from the easel and over defense objections.
Doctor Collins said he got more information. He told the jury he had assumed the staff was properly licensed and trained, the equipment worked properly and there had been no misrepresentations.
