In Philly trial, Gosnell rests without a defense

The Gosnell abortion clinic trial is coming to a close without hearing from the accused.

Wednesday, Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who is charged with four counts of first-degree murder for killing infants allegedly after they were delivered in his West Philadelphia clinic, declined to testify. Gosnell is also facing a third-degree murder charge in the death of a patient.

His lawyer, Jack McMahon did not call any witnesses to the stand in Gosnell’s defense, bringing the case to an abrupt end.

Both the prosecutors and the defense attorneys will read closing arguments on Monday. The jury is expected to begin deliberations Tuesday.

Wednesday’s proceedings focused on Gosnell’s co-defendant Eileen O’Neil. O’Neil is accused of fraud by deception for leading clients at Gosnell’s clinic to believe that she was a licensed doctor.

O’Neil’s attorney, James Berardinelli, brought forward a series of character witnesses. They include O’Neil’s current supervisor at an office supply store, Tom McCory; and her brother, Paul White. Both men defended O’Neil as a moral person, but were unable to comment on her work at the clinic. O’Neil did not testify.

The prosecutors brought to the stand three former patients of the clinic, who claimed that O’Neil treated them for non-abortion related gynecological reasons. While all three witnesses said that they believed at the time that they had received quality care from O’Neil, they also claimed that she led them to believe she was a licensed doctor. While O’Neil did graduate from medical school, she was unlicensed while working at the clinic.