Prosecutors May Show Mercy With Gosnell Employee Sentences

Former abortion clinic employees are set to be sentenced for their roles in the "house of horrors"

In a somewhat unusual move, Philadelphia prosecutors are expected to seek mercy this week for three women being sentenced for murder for their work at Dr. Kermit Gosnell's abortion clinic.

Prosecutors admit the women were desperate, and each has given testimony that helped them send Gosnell to prison for life.

Gosnell was found guilty on May 13 of murdering three babies during late-term abortion procedures. A jury also found him guilty of third-degree murder in the death of former patient Karnamaya Mongar.

The 72-year-old struck a plea deal with prosecutors to take three consecutive life sentences in return for avoiding the death penalty. As part of the deal, Gosnell gave up his right to appeal.

The doctor's former underlings include medical assistants Lynda Williams, Sherry West and Adrienne Moton.

They are due in court Wednesday to be sentenced for third-degree murder in the deaths of babies or for their role in Mongar's overdose death.

Defense lawyers call the women naive, untrained and uneducated.

West's lawyer, Michael Wallace, says Gosnell had a "Svengali control" over the women.

Wallace says if it were up to him, his client would get probation.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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