Jury selection begins in murder trial of Philly abortion doctor Gosnell

The case of a West Philadelphia doctor accused of delivering and then killing seven viable, pre-term babies is going to trial.

Jury selection began Monday in the case against abortion provider Kermit Gosnell, who sat in a Philadelphia courtroom calmly eyeing potential jurors.

The pool began with 125 prospective jurors; it’s expected to take a week to winnow it down to those who will decide the 72-year-old’s fate.

Gosnell is facing one count of third-degree murder in the death of a Bhutanese immigrant during a botched abortion in 2009.

He also stands accused of seven counts of first-degree murder of babies delivered alive, including one eight months along in the pregnancy.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Gosnell could face the death penalty.

Former clinic employee Eileen O’Neill is also on trial on charges of practicing medicine without a license.

Eight others already have pleaded guilty to murder or lesser charges stemming from the operation of the Women’s Medical Center clinic in West Philadelphia run by Gosnell.

The trial is expected to last about two months.