Michael F. Griffin Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in Doctor's Shooting

Michael F. Griffin, a 32-year-old abortion opponent, was found guilty late in the afternoon of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Dr. David Gunn during a demonstration outside an abortion clinic. Griffin was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of 25 years before becoming eligible for parole. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching a verdict.

Key Takeaways:

• Griffin was found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Dr. David Gunn, who was shot three times in the back at point-blank range outside the Pensacola Women's Medical Services abortion clinic.
• The jury rejected the defense's claim that Griffin was pushed into a nervous breakdown by anti-abortion propaganda and took the blame for a crime he did not commit to protect local anti-abortion leaders.
• Griffin's wife and father-in-law broke into tears after the sentence was announced, while Griffin showed no emotion, sitting motionless and expressionless throughout the proceedings.
• Dr. Gunn's girlfriend and son expressed mixed reactions to the verdict, with some relief but also a sense that Griffin may not have acted alone in the killing.
• Eleanor Smeal, former president of the National Organization for Women, expressed hope that the verdict would deter opponents of abortion rights from using violence, but anti-abortion leader Paul Hill vowed that his group, Defensive Action, would not be deterred.
• The defense complained that prosecutors' use of the term "assassin" was inflammatory and could lead to an unjust verdict, but the prosecution argued that it accurately described Griffin's deliberate and premeditated actions.
• Griffin's lawyers suggested that he may have taken the blame to protect local anti-abortion leaders John Burt and Donald Gratton, who had motive and opportunity to commit the crime, but were granted immunity by the prosecution.

Statistics:

• 25-year minimum sentence before Griffin becomes eligible for parole
• 11 times "assassin" was used by the chief prosecutor in closing arguments
• 5 days of testimony
• 6-day trial
• 11 women and 5 men served on the jury

Sources:

• The New York Times, Date Not Provided
• The Washington Post, Date Not Provided