Phoenix doctor convicted of murder, manslaughter

An Anthem physician who had three patients die during plastic-surgery procedures in his clinic was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in Maricopa County Superior Court. Peter Normann, MD, was pronounced guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of Ralph Gonzalez, 33, of Scottsdale, and Leslie Ann Ray, 53, of California, and of manslaughter for the death of Alicia Santizo Blanco, 41, of Gilbert. Throughout the trial, which began June 10, Normann's attorneys, John Johnsonand Vikki Liles, maintained that the deaths were accidental, the result of known risks of plastic surgery, and claimed that if Normann, 50, were found guilty, it would mean that all doctors would be liable for procedures gone wrong. Autopsy findings had listed the deaths as accidental. But in her closing arguments, Deputy County Attorney Jeannette Gallagher said the "combination of incompetence and arrogance in trying to cover up his (Normann's) incompetence led to their deaths."