Judge in Gosnell Case Warns TV Crews Away From Jurors
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On Day Six of jury deliberations in the murder trial of West Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, the presiding judge cautioned television crews not to film the jurors.
Lawyers in the case had an in-chambers conversation with Judge Jeffrey Minehart about TV crews taking pictures of jurors, apparently inadvertently, as they left the Criminal Justice Center on Monday.
At least one television station had apparently gotten information that a 70-year-old defendant was experiencing chest pains in the courthouse. (Gosnell is 72.)
An ambulance was called, and the defendant -- not related to the Gosnell case -- was taken away for treatment.
By coincidence, jurors in the Gosnell case (see related stories) were being led from the courthouse at the same time, and at least one television crew may have captured pictures of them in the background.
Judge Minehart said he wants to make sure that jurors are comfortable and he warned television crews not to photograph jurors, even inadvertently. Minehart said he doesn't want the jurors to be concerned about their privacy during their deliberations.
