Gosnell accomplice sentenced to 6-12 years for murder of babies at abortion clinic

A Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge today handed down a 6-12 year sentence to Steven Massof, an unlicensed doctor who took part in hundreds of illegal abortions in the now infamous (and now closed) West Philadelphia abortion facility run by abortionist Kermit Gosnell.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

Massof, 51, of Pittsburgh, was an unlicensed physician in 2003 when he began working for Gosnell’s Women’s Medical Society clinic at 3801 Lancaster Ave. He testified at Gosnell’s murder trial last year that he quit in 2008 because he was exhausted by the workload, dismayed by deteriorating clinic conditions and was in a dispute with a clinic worker.

Massof, along with eight other employees, was charged in 2011 for his work with Gosnell and pleaded guilty to murder late that same year. Although he faced first-degree murder charges, he opted to plead guilty to third-degree murder in exchange for his testimony.

And that testimony contained horrific accounts of babies born alive only to be killed by having their necks snipped with surgical scissors.

Aided by Massof’s testimony, last year a jury found Gosnell guilty of three counts of first-degree murder. He is currently serving three consecutive life sentences.

Massof said his time at the facility is a “horrific part of my life that will always be there.” He admitted, “I could have called the authorities. I’ll never make that mistake again.” And he told the judge that he was “ready to take full responsibility for my actions and my inaction.”

The Inquirer reports that prosecutors had argued for a 10 to 20 year sentence, but defense attorneys highlighted Massof’s cooperation with the investigation. The Inquirer also notes that three more Gosnell employees are still awaiting sentencing.

(In related news, be sure to read Cassy Fiano’s post on the documentary series exposing Gosnell’s house of horrors.)