Jury Turns Its Attention To Main Defendant In West Philadelphia Abortion-Murder Case
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A third full day of jury deliberations has wrapped up without a verdict in the murder trial of West Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell.
Jurors in the trial of West Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell have apparently turned their attention to the guilt or innocence of the main defendant.
In the jury room, the four fetuses allegedly murdered by Gosnell are now known as "the Abrams boy" (after his mother), "the Williams baby" and "the Moton baby" (for the aides in Gosnell's clinic who pleaded guilty in connection with each of those newborns), and "the whining baby." During the trial, one witness testified that she heard a baby crying briefly in the procedure room during an abortion.
During testimony, the alleged murder victims were referred to as "Baby A," "Baby B," and so on.
The jury has also asked for the property receipts of all medications taken from the West Philadelphia clinic, and a written definition of what constitutes a "corrupt organization." Gosnell is also charged with distributing pills illegally (see related story) and being a member of a corrupt organization (see related story).
Gosnell, 72, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder involving babies allegedly killed after being born alive and viable, and one count of third-degree murder in the death of a woman who died following an abortion (see related story).
From the start of deliberations on Tuesday afternoon and through the day on Wednesday and Thursday, the jury's questions to the judge had centered only on Gosnell's codefendant, Eileen O'Neill, 56, who worked in the clinic (see related story).
O'Neill was charged with six counts of theft by deception for allegedly presenting herself as a physician to patients and/or insurance companies.
Stay tuned to KYW Newsradio 1060 and CBS Philly for updates on this story and for the verdicts as soon as they are announced.
