Scott Roeder convicted of murder in abortion doctor鈥檚 killing
Scott Roeder argued that killing Dr. George Tiller was necessary to prevent future abortions. A manslaughter verdict would have brought a much lesser sentence, but the jury quickly convicted him of murder 鈥� which brings a life sentence.
Defendant Scott Roeder leaves the courtroom after the jury heard the closing arguments in his case on Friday in Wichita, Kan. Roeder was convicted of murdering Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller.
Jeff Tuttle/AP/Pool
Chicago
The first-degree murder conviction of antiabortion activist Scott Roeder on Friday has stalled the use of voluntary-manslaughter arguments to win lesser verdicts in future cases involving the killings of abortion doctors.
Mr. Roeder was found guilty of murdering George Tiller, a Wichita, Kan., doctor who operated a clinic where he performed late-term abortions and other medical services for women. Roeder admitted to shooting Dr. Tiller in the foyer of Tiller's church in May last year. But from the beginning his defense team sought to frame his actions as justified to prevent the deaths of unborn children.
In closing arguments Friday, Roeder defense lawyer Mark Rudy said his client 鈥渢hought that the babies kept on dying鈥� and he killed Tiller to prevent him from 鈥渒illing more babies.鈥�
Roeder faces life in prison
Voluntary manslaughter is a conviction that usually brings a sentence of up to five years in prison. Convicted of first-degree murder, Roeder now faces life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for March 9.
Roeder was also found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault for threatening two churchgoers with his gun as he fled the premises.
When Judge Warren Wilbert had announced he was open to hearing evidence to support a voluntary-manslaughter charge, many abortion-rights supporters feared such a ruling could set a precedent in future cases. Judge Wilbert ended up dismissing the possibility, charging that the defense team鈥檚 testimony was not compelling enough to justify deadly force by Roeder.
Wilbert鈥檚 rejection, coupled with the jury鈥檚 murder verdict, was received by abortion-rights organizations as validation of their judicial strategy. They also saw it as a strengthening of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 US Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion.
On Friday, Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, linked Roeder鈥檚 conviction with abortion鈥檚 legality.
鈥淒octors who perform abortions deserve and must receive the full protection of the law,鈥� she said in a statement. The jury, she added, 鈥渟ent a clear and resounding message to [Roeder] and to all anti-choice extremists [that] violence and murder cannot be justified by personal beliefs about abortion and will not be tolerated in this country.鈥�
Justice Department asked to investigate
Terry O鈥橬eil, president of the National Organization for Women, congratulated the jury 鈥渇or not being fooled by the outrageous defense claim of justifiable terrorism.鈥� In a statement, she asked the US Department of Justice to investigate antiabortion extremists who target abortion doctors and their families. Ms. O鈥橬eill said her organization could share what they know to 鈥渉elp shut down this conspiracy to deny women their fundamental right to abortion through violence and the threat of violence.鈥�
Several antiabortion groups had denounced Tiller鈥檚 killing at the time. But prominent antiabortion activist Randall Terry released a statement this week that called the trial 鈥渁 farce鈥� because the jury was not allowed to understand Roeder鈥檚 motives. "The vast majority of the pro-life movement is committed to the rule of law,鈥� Mr. Terry said. But he added: 鈥淭here is another law 鈥� the 鈥榣aw of blood.鈥� 鈥�
鈥淚t is etched in the hearts of man and the laws of nature and we cannot escape its reality or consequence,鈥� he said.
-----
Follow us on .