The jury in the murder trial of abortion practitioner Kermit Gosnell was suddenly evacuated from the courtroom after people on another floor of the Philadelphia court building smelled smoke.
The jury was in the middle of re-hearing testimony of a baby who was delivered alive after an abortion into a toilet and was seen struggling trying to live.
Two local reporters covering the Gosnell murder trial, J.D. Mullane and Sean O’Sullivan, both provided extensive tweets on what is happening. The initial alarm appears to have subsided and the trial is resuming:
#Gosnell jury returns to courtroom after “emergency.”
— jdmullane (@jdmullane) May 9, 2013
Court staff plans to resume read-back of testony in #gosnell shortly, but all clear not yet announced on PA. Attys & gosnell back in room
— Sean G. O’Sullivan (@SeanGOSullivan) May 9, 2013
All is on hold with #gosnell while wait for smoke on 5th floor to b investigated #netde
— Sean G. O’Sullivan (@SeanGOSullivan) May 9, 2013
NBC3 reporter Walt Hunter says “slight odor” of smoke in HVAC. Public address system states “emergency” is not verified. Oh, Swell.
— jdmullane (@jdmullane) May 9, 2013
Smell of smoke on 5th floor of Phila Crim Justice Ctr interrupts #Gosnell testimony. Jury removed. Media remain.
— jdmullane (@jdmullane) May 9, 2013
Source of “emergency” at Crim Justice Ctr still undetermined. #Gosnell trial in Courtroom 304.
— jdmullane (@jdmullane) May 9, 2013
Read back interrupted by emergency declared in Phila criminal justice center. #gosnell Jury taken out. Not known what emergency is. #netde
— Sean G. O’Sullivan (@SeanGOSullivan) May 9, 2013
Fifth floor of Phila crim justice ctr evacuated. Report of smoke. #gosnell trial is on 3rd floor #netde
— Sean G. O’Sullivan (@SeanGOSullivan) May 9, 2013
A PA announcement interrupted read back, a follow up announcement advised all to remain in place while emergency dealt with #gosnell #netde
— Sean G. O’Sullivan (@SeanGOSullivan) May 9, 2013