Chesco lawyer guilty of murder for withholding father's care
A Chester County lawyer accused of withholding medical care from his 92-year-old father and causing his death was found guilty Thursday of third-degree murder.
A Chester County lawyer accused of withholding medical care from his 92-year-old father and causing his death was found guilty Thursday of third-degree murder.
After deliberating for more than 10 hours, a jury found Edward J. O'Brien III, 61, guilty of all charges - including aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, and reckless endangerment - in the 2013 death of Edward J. O'Brien Jr.
This was the second trial for the West Whiteland Township man. A jury deadlocked on all charges in February.
The new trial began June 21. Jurors started deliberating Wednesday afternoon and returned their verdict around 4 p.m. Thursday.
"We are deeply disappointed in the jury's verdict," said O'Brien's lawyer, Joseph Patrick Green Jr. "Mr. O'Brien will consider all of his appellate options after sentencing."
Chester County Assistant District Attorney Ronald Yen said prosecutors appreciated the amount of time the court and jury spent hearing the evidence, which included photographs and hundreds of documents.
Police found O'Brien's father with bed sores and feces on his body after his son called 911 on Sept. 8, 2013.
O'Brien's lawyer argued during both trials that his client was following his father's wishes by not forcing medical care on him.
Yen contended that the elder O'Brien wanted medical care, but the defendant withheld it for his own financial gain.
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
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