Legal Commentary

Jury Convicts Roeder in Abortion Doctor Killing

By Jeralyn

The Kansas jury in the Scott Roder murder trial deliberated 40 minutes before returning a guilty verdict.

The jury found Scott Roeder, 51, guilty of gunning down Dr. George Tiller, who operated a clinic in Wichita where late-term abortions were performed. Roeder, 51, faces life in prison when he is sentenced on March 9.

Roeder admitted shooting Tiller in the foyer of Reformation Lutheran Church as Sunday services began. He testified in his defense Thursday that he believed he had to kill Tiller to save the lives of unborn babies. He said he had no regrets.

So much for that defense, which was meant as much for the judge as the jury. He was hoping it would get him an instruction on the lesser crime of involuntary manslaughter, and a 5 year sentence. It didn't.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 29, 2010 (boomark / email).