Guilty verdict
in slain Kansas
abortion doctor case
From the Web, January
29, 2010
KANSAS CITY -- A man accused
of gunning down one of America's few late-term abortion providers was found
guilty of first-degree murder on Friday after he said he had to act to stop the
doctor from performing more abortions.
Scott Roeder, 51, was convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated assault by
a Wichita, Kansas jury which deliberated for just over 30 minutes. The
case attracted anti-abortion protesters from around the nation to support
Roeder.
Abortion has been one of America's most contentious and divisive issues for
decades, affecting everything from local and national elections to the selection
of U.S. Supreme Court justices.
Roeder admitted he stalked and shot to death Dr. George Tiller, 67, on May 31
last year as Tiller attended church in Wichita, Kansas. He argued in court
his actions were necessary to protect unborn babies.
"Abortions were being done every day," Roeder testified. "My honest belief
was that if I didn't do something they would continue to die."
Roeder's sentencing was set for March 9. District Attorney Nola Foulston
will seek a "hard 50" mandatory life sentence, under which Roeder will have to
serve 50 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
Tiller was long a top target of anti-abortion activists and had been shot and
wounded before. He was one of only a few U.S. physicians willing to
perform abortions late in pregnancy.
The doctor's death intensified the abortion debate and the actions taken by
people who want it to be illegal. Abortion was legalized in a landmark
1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
"While this verdict will not bring back Dr. Tiller it was very important that
justice was served," said Vicki Saporta, president of pro-abortion group the
National Abortion Federation, speaking from the courthouse in Wichita.
ABORTION ACTIVISTS
"It was important for other abortion providers and it was important for ensuring
the ability of women to obtain quality abortion care."
Anti-abortion activists had hoped the trial might result in a verdict of
voluntary manslaughter, while abortion rights groups feared any verdict other
than a first-degree murder conviction would encourage further violence against
abortion providers.
Abortion rights supporters have called on federal authorities to press an
investigation into a larger conspiracy by anti-abortion activists to commit
violent acts against abortion providers.
Anti-abortion activists from around America, including the founder of the
prominent anti-abortion group Operation Rescue Randall Terry, flocked to Wichita
to defend Roeder's actions.
Some protesters held signs opposing abortion and supporting Roeder outside the
courthouse and held press conferences referring to Tiller as a murderer himself.
Other anti-abortion groups, however, distanced themselves from violence against
abortion providers.
Cheryl Sullenger of Operation Rescue, which Terry led until 1991, reiterated the
group's denunciation of Dr. Tiller's murder, but said the organization had no
further comment.
"There is no justification for this murder," said Ann Scheidler, vice president
of the Pro-Life Action League, which had been trying to shut down Dr. Tiller's
operations via the courts prior to his death. "The vast majority of
pro-life activists are peaceful, law abiding people."
"Mr. Roeder's actions were very selfish and un-Christian and we have to pay the
price for them," she added.
(Editing by David Storey)
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