Gosnell Acquitted on 3 Counts of Murder, 5 Counts of Corpse Abuse in Grisly Murder Trial

The Blaze ^ | Apr. 23, 2013 | Billy Hallowell

[LucianOfSamasota]

t’s shaping up to be a dramatic day in the courtroom for those keeping a watchful eye on the Dr. Kermit Gosnell case. According to columnist J.D. Mullane, a writer for the Bucks County Courier Times, the abortion doctor was acquitted this morning on three counts of murder.

In a series of tweets from inside the courtroom, Mullane described the dismissals, noting that Gosnell still has five murder charges remaining against him (in sequence from oldest to newest):

#Gosnell defense atty Jack McMahon asks Judge Jeffrey Minehart for abort doc's acquittal. Judge listens, takes recess.

#Gosnell Judge Minehart acquits abort doc on 3 counts murder, 1 infanticide, 5 abuse of corpse; but 5 murder charges remain.

[Lurking Libertarian]

Don’t tell the “stupids” journalists that dismissing a charge for lack of evidence is not the same thing as a jury acquittal.

It's not an "acquittal" by the jury, but legally it has the same effect. If a judge dismisses a charge before trial, the prosecution can appeal. If, as here, the judge and the jury hear the evidence and then the judge dismisses the charge before the jury gets the case, it is legally considered an "acquittal" in that the prosecution cannot appeal and the defendant cannot be re-tried on that charge.