The Gosnell trial in real life - notes from our Vice President

DRTL vice president, David Williams, attended the Gosnell trial last week, as you read here.  He attended for a second time yesterday.  These are his notes:

Well, I am back on the “slow train to Philly” but at least now I know what to expect.  I made the 8:51 departure and hope to be in the courtroom by 10 AM.  It is Thursday, April 18. I read in the paper this morning that the prosecution will call one or two more witnesses and then rest its case.  So, I am anticipating a short day, with the normal three day weekend this trial has been taking, on the horizon.  I have missed a lot of compelling testimony since I am only able to make weekly trips.

10:08: I arrive and Court is already in session. There are many more representatives of the press today.  I count 36 people who have come to watch the proceedings and estimate about half are reporters or court artists.  Reuters, Fox News, The Wilmington News Journal and some young ladies from CNSNews.com are among the group.  There are still 16 jurors in the box.

The Defense is wrapping up a cross examination of Lisa Dungee, a client of Eileen O'Neill, who is being tried with Gosnell but for lesser charges.

10:47: The Judge explains that a witness for the Defense will be called next out of order since she is to undergo back surgery tomorrow.

The witness, Natalie Tursi, testifies that she “has been a good friend of Eileen O'Neill for 6 or 7 years and had met her through Eileen’s brother, another good friend.  Tursi states that on March 9, 2010 she arrives at O’Neill’s house where four agents (detectives) are already on the scene.  She recalls one agent, Huff, questioning O'Neill at first in a conversational manner but then his tone becomes more aggressive. She says that Eileen O'Neill, seemed nervous and apprehensive and asked, “am I under investigation?”.  Tursi went on to say that Detective Huff stated, “Do you want to practice medicine, get your license, you’ll be a witness.”

Cross examination of Natalie Tursi by the prosecution: You state that you met O'Neill through her brother, how did that come about.

Tursi: We were boyfriend and girlfriend.

D.A.: Aren’t you in fact living with this brother, Paul White in Wilmington, Delaware?

Tursi: Well yes but we are no longer boyfriend and girlfriend.

Tursi goes on to testify, with what appears to be a delighted smirk on her face, that she had previously testified for O'Neill who was trying to get her medical license in Delaware.  She also stated that while O’Neill had book smarts she didn’t have a lot of common sense (an apparent defense of why O’Neill did not ask for a lawyer).

The D.A. goes on to establish that Tursi had received a text from O'Neill while on the way to her house that said: the FBI is here.

The D.A. seems to be implying that Tursi is a biased witness, a gossip and a bit of a busy body.

11:25: Kareema Cross takes the stand for the prosecution.

The D.A. establishes that she was arrested by the Feds and pled guilty to conspire to distribute controlled substances.  Her sentence of probation is contingent on her cooperation in this case.  After completing a nine month course to become a medical assistant, Kareema Cross was trained to staff the front desk, take vital signs and do blood work. She started working for Kermit Gosnell for 10 dollars an hour in August 2005 performing these tasks.  Her employment lasted until December 2009.

Some months later after receiving “a couple of minutes” training Kareema started doing ultra sounds and assisting in procedures, helping with abortions.  While initially working from 8:30 AM until 5:30 PM, at times she would work until 3:30 the next morning, 19 hour shifts. Although never certified Ms. Cross began injecting patients with medications. She testified that she and other uncertified staff would sedate patients and leave them in an upstairs room with no monitoring machines and sporadic visits. 

The mothers would be given cytotec to dilate the cervix to ease the passage of a baby during the abortion.  This drug would often cause the baby to precipitate (a euphemism for “to be born”). 

Kareema Cross testified that she saw one baby that precipitated in the toilet and was still alive.  She described the baby as swimming in the toilet, attempting to get out.  A coworker came in and slit the baby’s neck in front of it’s mother. When Gosnell arrived he measured the baby’s feet and said it was 24.5 weeks old.

D.A.: Did you ever see babies that precipitated breathing?

Cross: Yes, over 10 times. I saw one baby, his chest going up and down, Linda pulled his hand up and the baby moved his arm back by himself.  He was breathing for 10 to 20 minutes before Linda Williams snipped the back of the his neck.  

Cross: If I did an ultra sound and determined the baby was over 24 weeks along I would call Kermit Gosnell who would redo the ultra sound and proclaim it to be 24.5 weeks.

Cross: The women would come from all over, Virginia....  Gosnell said he had connections.  Sometimes patients would stay overnight in the empty facility the day before the abortion. 

D.A.: Do you remember Shaquana Abrams?

Kareema Cross: Yes, she had the largest baby I ever saw.  He precipitated while she was asleep.  Gosnell put the baby in a shoe container (called that because of it’s similar size). “The baby was breathing and it’s arms and legs were hanging over the sides of the box, then he came together. He fit himself into the box.”  At this point Kareema demonstrates how the baby closed his arms to fit into the box.  “Gosnell cut the baby’s neck.  He was left in the box overnight in the office until the janitor complained the next day.”  Gosnell used his joke that “the baby could have walked to the bus stop.”

Cross: Kermit Gosnell treated white patients and those that appeared to have money differently.  He talked to them, spent time with them.

Cross: I was pregnant in 2009 and Gosnell tried to talk me into an abortion. “You are going to school.  How can you work here being pregnant?” Kareema gave birth to that child but had an abortion another time “at another clinic, his was too filthy.”

12:35: Lunch break

During the break Andree Seu Peterson of “World Magazine” told me that on the Monday following the release of the “empty press seats” photo the judge admonished the media for abusing their cell phone privilege.  No photos are allowed in the courtroom.

This photo and the subsequent follow up by the photographer J.D. Mullane was the main cause of shaming the mainstream press into covering the trial.

My notes today include my observation that some on the jury laugh and smile.  I don’t know if it is nerves or a disregard for what they are seeing unfold. 

I also find it interesting that some of the most horrific things Kermit Gosnell has done are perfectly legal in our country. Killing the baby with drugs or suctioning out the contents of its brain while it is still in the mother’s womb is common practice in the abortion industry.

2:15: The Trial Resumes

Cross Examination by the Defense attorney McMahon: He repeats all of the introductory facts concerning Kareema Cross confusing some of them.  I notice his hacking and coughing that has plagued him throughout the trial is still an issue.

McMahon’s technique seems to be to discredit the witness.  He tries to paint her as unintelligent.  He sights her testimony before the grand jury and tries to establish discrepancies.  Objections are made by the prosecution and McMahon changes his tactics.

McMahon: You wouldn’t stay at a place that was killing babies, would you?

Kareema Cross: “I did stay”

I leave the Court Room at 3 PM for Suburban Station.

Fellow lifers ...

The following is a story from our Dover, 40 Days for Life leader, Donna Latteri:

" ... To my beloved pastors and Deacons:

When will WE do something about our Planned Parenthood here in Dover? What are your suggestions on more that we can do? Flushing babies down the toilet after taking RU486 is very common here. It's a mind set.

Unsafe conditions and un-sterilized instruments put women at risk daily. 

I spoke with a young father yesterday at the clinic who was outside the door. 

I asked him if he would use a dentist that didn't sterilize his instruments. Of course he said he would NOT because he could get a disease. 

I asked if he thought flushing babies down toilets was acceptable practice today. He did NOT feel it was.  

I showed him and described to him a child if 8 weeks in development. His child was 6 weeks along....

I showed him how Margaret Sanger's vision was to eliminate the minorities and how abortion is the largest threat on their race.  

I offered him adoption services that would pay for everything.  

His reply "it's just not a good time".  

I asked if he was embarrassed --- I relayed that I was 23 and single and pregnant and had to make that choice. 

He said he was NOT embarrassed. "It's just not a good time".  

Deal as I saw it was he just doesn't want to be responsible and didn't care if the girl got diseases from bloodied instruments or bled to death from the RU486. 

PLEASE ADVISE --- How do we overcome the mindset that life is flushable and disposable?

I suggest looking at the Jericho Movement. It requires bringing Jesus to the site of evil. 

We can do this once a month with Eucharistic procession.

And HEAVILY promote this from the pulpit.

The blood of these babies is on all of us if we DON'T do more ... "

The next Gosnell? Planned Parenthood of Delaware benefits from being in bed with State of Delaware and News Journal

Guess who is the public face of the DHSS Division of Public Health in the matter of the State of Delaware's pending investigation of Planned Parenthood of Delaware? Only the ex-PR Director of Planned Parenthood of Delaware (PPDE) herself!

The fox is in charge of the hen house in Delaware!

For three days after an ABC6 Action News report on two former Planned Parenthood revealing Gosnell-like conditions (guerneys with bloody drainage from last patient, unsterile instruments) at 625 Shipley St, the News Journal -- premiere newspaper in Delaware -- maintained its silence. No comment whatsoever on the shocking allegations revealed by a Philadelphia television station after the News Journal ignored attempts by the whistle-blowing nurses to give them the story. Finally, the News Journal reports on Planned Parenthood:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130413/NEWS/304130030/In-office-abortions-hold-Planned-Parenthood

Does the News Journal mention the allegations of filthy conditions and a "meat market style of assembly line abortions" that abc6 reported on? Nope. Does it mention $5000 in fines paid by PPDE in 2012 for OSHA violations including dirty needles and untrained staff handling contagious materials? Nope! Does it mention 22 staffers quit or fired since 2012? Nope, nope, and nope! What does it tell the people of Delaware?

This sterling piece of journalism says that the new CEO of Planned Parenthood, Ruth Lytle-Barnaby, has suspended in-office abortions (surgery) in order to train new staff.

Can you say travesty? No mention of the abc6 report, no mention of the allegations of filth and worse by the nurses who worked at PP, NOTHING.

To cap it off, the article cites DHSS representative Emily Knearl about Public Health's oversight of Planned Parenthood. and just who is Ms Knearl?? Only the former PR Director of Planned Parenthood of Delaware who worked at the 625 Shipley St clinic until last year!

Yeah, THAT'S gonna be a great investigation. Ex PP bigwig is representing the Public Health division that's investigating PP!

You can't make this stuff up! Not only is the State of DE in bed with Planned Parenthood, it looks like the News Journal is in bed with both!

Rae Stabosz is a volunteer for Delaware Right to Life.  Her attack while filming ambulances at Planned Parenthood in Wilmington has led to a media firestorm, and an effort to expose this facility as the "next Gosnell", as abortion clinic regulations in Delaware are non-existent.  Rae is a contributor at First State for Life and blogs at Confessions of a Cooperator.

A first-hand account at the Gosnell trial (since the media won't tell you about it)

DRTL Vice President, David Williams, attended the Kermit Gosnell trial in Philadelphia this morning.  Since you won't hear the story from the mainstream media, here is his first-hand account of the horror he heard and witnessed while in the stands:

I am on the train now informed that the 33 minute ride to Philadelphia will take one hour.  Is the Conductor yanking my chain?  No, we stop 16 times and this will be my last train ride.  We travel through very seedy sections of towns, some I never knew existed.  Trash is strewn along the banks of the train tracks.  I feel like I am riding through a city dump.  Finally, we arrive at Suburban Station.  After stumbling through the city streets like the tourist hick I am, I finally enter the Court room at 10:37 AM.  There are still 16 jurors of the 17 Moira and I saw on our first day attending the Gosnell Trial.

Ashly Baldwin is on the stand and testifies that she had only received a few minutes training, as a 17 year old High School student, before she was giving anesthesia to patients.  My notes include a quote from her, "the babies flinched and went into the waste bin." She went on to say that "Gosnell would have her push down on the mother's stomachs and the baby would come out in pieces, sometimes the mother would be awake."  "Gosnell kept jars of feet and hands which he claimed would be picked up by schools for research."  Ashly (I saw no  "e" on the chart) said she never saw anyone pick up the jars for research.  She saw the baby in the infamous picture breathing, his chest moving.  Gosnell did not require the 24 hour consent forms required by Pennsylvania law.  He backdated them.  He also would have Ashly call someone named Vicki in Delaware to get funding for Delaware patients. Gosnell fabricated Delaware addresses for Pennsylvania patients in order to obtain this funding.  Lunch Break 11:40.

I met John Mullane of "Greater Philadelphia Media", who apparently took my picture.  He shared that he is very pro-life and that his (uncle?) is John Stanton who has been in the pro-life movement in Delaware County since the 60's.  I also met Andree' Seu Peterson from "World Magazine", a very pleasant Christian lady who files a daily report. 

Also while at lunch, I located the short route to Suburban Station, very close to the Court House.  I didn't need to wander the city earlier had I been aware of it's proximity.  I spoke to an old ABC photographer I met on the street and asked him why the News Media is not covering the sensational trial of a mass murderer.  He said: "women are now editors and are more interested in doing reports on breast cancer or stories about kittens than reporting the news." He went on to say they cover opening day and the verdict, leaving the rest to low paid internet watchers.  I pressed him about a media bias and he agreed that was part of it.

After lunch I cornered the D.A. and told him that we in the pro-life community are praying for his success.  He said, "thank you, I appreciate that."

Andree' from "World Magazine" told me that at lunch in the Reading Terminal she found dollar bills on the floor and thought of purchasing something but decided instead to ask the Lord who she should give the money to.  She walked outside, saw a man with no legs, and said "The Lord gave me this money to give to you."  He replied, "thank you Jesus and then said, "thanks to you also." 

While waiting for the jury to return I noticed the African American guard who escorted Gosnell back in, helping him to his seat, and twice patting him on the back as they smiled pleasantly at each other. 

The Trial finally resumes at 1:25 PM.

Cross examination of Ashly Baldwin.  McMahon, still hacking and coughing as he was last week, begins.  Ashly Baldwin states that her mother had also worked for Gosnell.  McMahon stresses that "her own mother brought her to work there." (Implying, it must have been a nice place).  Ashly started working there in September of 2006 on a study release program from school.  From other sources I believe she was 15 at this time.  Her job was comforting girls and cleaning up.  McMahon keeps hammering away about Gosnell's mentoring of Ashly.  Ashly goes on to say that she "had to step up and do more because the staff was leaving." When speaking of her ultra sound use McMahon used the word fetus once and then said "to see the size of the baby."  His coughing and hacking interrupts every third of fourth sentence.  Baldwin's mother left Gosnell's clinic at some time to tend to Ashly's ailing grandmother.  McMahon says to Ashly, "you wouldn't work in a place that kills or hurts children or babies would you?" Ashly replies, "its not my nature to work in a place that kills children but it was my job."

McMahon calls them babies again.  "You indicated that you would see babies precipitated in the toilets. You don't know the age of these children that had precipitated, did you?"  He then asked, did you see repeat customers who would come back year after year?  Ashly said, "they came back all the time, even in the same year." 

McMahon: "The baby that made the noise, the baby in the basin balled up in the fetal position made a movement shrugging his shoulders."  Again, he said baby, child, baby.  The second baby you witnessed made a quick arm thrust.  McMahon was trying to convince the jury that these were dead baby muscle spasms as Gosnell insisted.  He asked Ashly if she accepted this premise.  She said, "somewhat."

Ashly tells McMahon she told her mother a joke Gosnell made that the baby could have walked her home.  She repeated this twice more, unsolicited.  McMahon closed with a statement that Gosnell used Digoxin to stop the heart so the baby won't be born alive.

Redirect: The D.A.: Were the babies alive?

                Ashly: Yes.

                The D.A.: You were confused because the doctor said the babies would be dead but they were breathing, alive?  Ashly replied, "yes."

2:25: Ashly's testimony ends.  There seems to have been a time constraint which caused some consternation between the D.A. and the Defense.

During the break Andree' asked me do I think the pro-life community would think it better if Gosnell is convicted and the public is able to wash their hands of this mess or better that he walks and the public has to contend with the horror of what they have wrought.  I mull this good question for just a second and reply, "he is the devil and he has to pay."

2:40: Court resumes.

        Erlene Tina Baldwin, Ashly's mother, takes the stand.  She has already pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing, pending her cooperation for, Corrupt organization, Conspiracy to corrupt organization, two felonies and the corruption of the morals of a minor, a misdemeanor.  Also a federal rap for narcotics.  80 years maximum sentence.

 Erlene testifies that "Thompson Institute" placed her at Gosnell's clinic for an "externship," as opposed to an internship in 2002.  She had studied one year to become a medical assistant.  Erlene Baldwin works for Gosnell until 2010 when her mother takes ill.

2:55: I have to leave to catch the slow moving train home as I am scheduled to speak at the Knights of Columbus State Meeting in New Castle.

April 11, 2013

David Williams