Abortion doctor's attorneys want charges tossed

Lawyers representing a Camden County abortion doctor charged with murder in Maryland in the deaths of five fetuses have asked a judge to dismiss the charges, arguing that prosecutors lack jurisdiction because the deaths occurred in New Jersey.

Steven Brigham, 55, of Voorhees, lost his New Jersey medical license in 2010 after regulators discovered an arrangement under which he would begin second- and third-trimester abortions in New Jersey, then have the patients drive themselves to Maryland the next day to complete the procedures.

His attorneys argued in a motion filed last week that the arrangement protects him from criminal prosecution in Maryland because Brigham administered drugs that killed the fetuses while the patients were in New Jersey. He then extracted the fetuses at his clinic in Elkton, Md.

Cecil County, Md., state's attorney Ellis Rollins declined to comment Monday. - AP