Philadelphia abortion trial resuming with defense

4/23/2013

PHILADELPHIA  — The defense is expected to get under way today in the capital murder trial of a Philadelphia abortion provider.

Seventy-two-year-old Dr. Kermit Gosnell is charged in the overdose death of a patient and in the deaths of seven babies allegedly born alive.

The defense has argued that there were no live births at Gosnell’s Women’s Medical Center, and that the woman died in 2009 of unforeseen complications.

Former staffer Eileen O’Neill is also on trial. The 56-year-old Phoenixville woman is charged with practicing medicine without a license, and taking part in a corrupt organization.

She may call character witnesses today.

But first, defense lawyers are expected to ask that the charges be dismissed for lack of evidence after the five-week prosecution case. Such motions are routine but rarely granted.