Another defendant in Gosnell case gets bail reduction

A sister-in-law and sometime employee of accused abortionist Kermit Gosnell was ordered freed on house arrest Thursday by a Philadelphia judge.

Common Pleas Court Judge Benjamin Lerner reduced the bail of Elizabeth Hampton, 53, to $5,000 from the original $250,000 set when Hampton was arrested Jan. 19 with Gosnell, his wife, and seven other workers from Gosnell's West Philadelphia abortion clinic.

Hampton and her family will be able to post the 10 percent of the new bail so she can be released, defense attorney Murray B. Dolfman told the judge.

The ruling came a day before Lerner is to take up the bail question for Pearl Gosnell, 50, wife of the 70-year-old physician. She has been held since her arrest after failing to post $1 million bail.

Pearl Gosnell is charged with participating in the abortion of a fetus more than 24 weeks old and three other counts involving operation of a corrupt organization.

Her husband faces a count of third-degree murder involving the death of a patient during an abortion and seven counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of seven infants born alive and viable, then allegedly killed. Prosecutors have said they are considering seeking the death penalty against the doctor.

Hampton, Gosnell's sister-in-law, worked periodically at his Women's Medical Society clinic at 3801 Lancaster Ave., cleaning instruments and answering phones, according to court documents.

In arguing for lower bail, Dolfman noted that state bail guidelines for the crimes with which Hampton is charged - perjury, hindering prosecution, and obstruction of justice - call for release on personal assurance.

Assistant District Attorneys Joanne Pescatore and Christine Wechsler did not object to the bail reduction. They cautioned Lerner, however, that in addition to being a member of Gosnell's extended family, Hampton pays rent to the doctor because she and her family live in one of his properties.

In addition to electronically monitored house arrest, Lerner ordered Hampton not to have any contact with witnesses or the others charged.

Hampton is the second of the Gosnell defendants to have their bail reduced. Last Friday, Lerner granted a request to reduce the $1 million bail for Eileen O'Neil to $30,000. O'Neil posted 10 percent of the lower amount and was released the same day.

Two other defendants posted bail shortly after their arrests.