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Verdict reached in Philadelphia abortion trial
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A Philadelphia abortion provider who killed
babies by cutting their spinal cords with
scissors was found guilty of first-degree murder
on Monday. The conviction on three counts of
first-degree murder means Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 72,
could be sentenced to death. Gosnell, who is not
a board-certified obstetrician or gynecologist,
was also found guilty of 21 counts of abortion of
the unborn, 24 weeks or older. In Pennsylvania,
abortions past 24 weeks are illegal unless the
health of the mother is at stake. The case next
moves to the penalty phase, when jurors will
weigh whether to give Gosnell a death sentence.