Gosnell avoids death penalty

Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted of killing three babies who were born alive, has agreed to give up his right to an appeal in order to avoid a possible death sentence.

Gosnell was convicted Monday of first-degree murder in the deaths of three babies who were delivered alive and then killed with scissors. The 72-year-old abortionist gave up his appeal rights Tuesday, with prosecutors agreeing to two life sentences without parole. Gosnell will be sentenced Wednesday in the death of the third baby, an involuntary manslaughter conviction in the death of a patient, and hundreds of lesser counts.

Prosecutors had sought the death penalty because Gosnell was convicted of killing more than one person, and his victims were especially vulnerable given their age. But Gosnell's advanced age made it unlikely he would ever be executed before his appeals ran out.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.