After nearly two weeks of deliberations, the jury in the trial of Kermit Gosnell has convicted Gosnell of three of the five murder charges against him. Gosnell will face the penalty phase of his trial starting next Tuesday, when he could receive the death penalty.
Gosnell, who ran a late-term abortion clinic at 3801 Lancaster Avenue — less than a mile from the center of Penn’s campus — was found guilty today of three first-degree murder charges against babies and the involuntary manslaughter of one of his patients, Karnamaya Mongar. He was acquitted of the third-degree murder of Mongar.
“He’s disappointed, and he’s upset,” Gosnell’s attorney Jack McMahon told NBC about his client after the verdict was announced.
Originally prosecuted for eight counts of murder — seven of which were for killing babies — Gosnell had three of the first-degree charges against him dismissed on April 23 after his attorney filed a motion for a judgment of acquittal on those counts.
Gosnell was also charged with 227 counts of performing abortions without giving a mandated 24-hour waiting period to the mother and 24 counts of performing abortions after Pennsylvania’s legal limit of 24 weeks.
The trial, which began on March 18, lasted over five weeks and involved the testimony of over 34 witnesses, including medical examiners, police officers and former clinic employees.
Eight of the former clinic employees, including Gosnell’s wife, Pearl, have already pleaded guilty to charges related to the practices of Gosnell’s Women’s Medical Society.
Gosnell’s co-defendant, Eileen O’Neill, was found guilty today of two counts of conspiracy and two charges of theft by deception. She will be sentenced on July 15.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office issued a statement today that it “will abide by the gag order [on Gosnell’s case] and will not comment” until the jurors have decided “whether Gosnell will be sentenced to death or remain in prison for the rest of his life.”
Gosnell still faces federal drug charges in the United States District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania for the illegal prescription drug practice he allegedly operated out of his clinic.
A previous version of this article indicated that Gosnell was convicted of the third-degree murder of Karnamaya Mongar. He was convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of Mongar.
Check back for updates.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.