A Level of Closure from the Court in the Case of a Baby-Killing House of Horrors in Philadelphia

In response to the first degree murder convictions of “Doctor” Kermit Gosnell, I say, “Thank God”.  I had feared that Gosnell’s charm and shrewd defense attorney might have planted doubt in the mind of at least one juror and caused a mistrial or an acquittal to occur.

 

The jury sifted through a mountain of material, involving complex and multiple charges, and did its job.  The people of the Commonwealth and individuals with a sense of basic decency everywhere should be thankful to those that served in this challenging and disturbing case.

 

I am optimistic that the Gosnell convictions will make it far more likely that all purported health care facilities are regularly inspected and I shall hope that the first degree murder convictions send the message that those who would dare to murder babies: viable human beings, will be dealt with harshly.

 

It is regrettable that no sentence of death will be carried out, but that would not have occurred even if a sentence of capital punishment had been rendered as Pennsylvania's justice system has nulllified the death penalty statute. Life in prison without the possibility of parole will have to suffice.

 

One  irony that emerged during the trial is that on the night that agents swarmed the Gosnell clinic, believing him to be engaged merely in improper prescription of medication,  the killer returned to the facility with live clams to be fed to his pet turtles.  In his twisted world, there was obviously a higher value placed on his turtles than there was on helpless, innocent infants.


May there never be another Kermit Gosnell house of horrors.