Prosecutors say 72-year-old Kermit Gosnell killed babies born alive because he did not know how to do a proper abortion.
View full sizeKermit Gosnell A jury has begun deliberating in the capital murder trial of a Philadelphia abortion doctor charged with killing a patient and four babies.
Prosecutors say 72-year-old Kermit Gosnell routinely performed abortions past the state's 24-week limit and killed babies born alive because he did not know how to do a proper abortion.
He is also charged in the 2009 overdose death of a patient.
The defense argues that Gosnell helped poor, desperate women and teens who had no other access to care.
Gosnell faces 258 counts in all, including the five murder counts. Other charges against him include one count each of infanticide and racketeering, 24 counts of performing third-trimester abortions and 227 counts of failing to counsel patients a day in advance.
Jurors were given the case today.