Court finds Indian origin surgeon killed Australian patients

An Australian court found a US surgeon guilty of manslaughter charges on Tuesday over the deaths of three patients he operated on in an Australian hospital between 2003 and 2005, Australian media said.

Jayant Patel, a US citizen born in India, could be sentenced to life in prison on the charges, which stem from his time at the Bundaberg Base Hospital in northern Queensland state.

Patel, who pleaded not guilty, will be sentenced on Thursday.

Patel was extradited from the United States in July 2008.

The Brisbane Supreme Court jury returned the verdict after a 15-week trial and about 50 hours of deliberation, said local media at the court.