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Wife of West Philadelphia Abortion Doctor Pleads Guilty

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --The wife of a West Philadelphia abortion doctor accused of murdering viable fetuses has pleaded guilty in connection with the case.

Pearl Gosnell, 50, the wife of lead defendant Dr. Kermit Gosnell, pleaded guilty today to taking part in an abortion on a fetus over 24 weeks old and being part of a "corrupt organization."   That organization was the Women's Medical Society, run by her husband.

Pearl Gosnell assisted the doctor on Sundays, when authorities say the largest and oldest fetuses were aborted.

She will be sentenced later and faces a possible maximum of 54 years in prison.

Her husband and two others are still awaiting trial, set for 2013 (see related stories).

A total of seven defendants now have pleaded guilty in the case.  Some are cooperating with prosecutors, but there was no immediate indication today of whether Pearl Gosnell will assist the prosecution.

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