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Gosnell Avoids Death Penalty

  • Religion Today Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated May 15, 2013

Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted of killing three babies born alive, agreed to give up his right to an appeal in order to avoid a possible death sentence, WORLD reports. Gosnell was convicted Monday of first-degree murder in the deaths of three babies who were delivered alive and then killed with scissors. The 72-year-old abortionist gave up his appeal rights Tuesday, with prosecutors agreeing to two life sentences without parole. Gosnell was sentenced to another life sentence Wednesday in the death of the third baby, and was also sentenced to between two and a half to five years for the overdose death of a patient. Although prosecutors charged Gosnell with third-degree murder in the patient's death, the jury found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Before he was led away to start his prison sentence, the judge asked Gosnell if he wanted to say anything, and he replied, "Not at this time." Prosecutors had sought the death penalty because Gosnell was convicted of killing more than one person and his victims were especially vulnerable given their age, but Gosnell's advanced age made it unlikely he would ever be executed before his appeals ran out.