Saturday, January 30, 2010
Los Angeles Times
WICHITA, Kan. — Supporters of abortion rights are hailing the conviction of Scott Roeder, the anti- abortion activist who Friday morning was found guilty of murdering Dr. George Tiller, one the nation’s few physicians who performed late-term abortions.
Almost immediately after the verdict, attorneys for the Tiller family released a statement thanking the jury, prosecutors and police of Wichita. They had been in court last March, as well, when Tiller was acquitted on misdemeanor charges he broke Kansas abortion laws.
“Once again, a Sedgwick County jury has reached a just verdict,” said the statement from Jeanne Tiller and her children. “We also want to thank George’s countless friends and supporters in Wichita and around the country who have offered their comfort.
“At this time, we hope that George can be remembered for his legacy of service to women, the help he provided for those who needed it and the love and happiness he provided us as a husband, father and grandfather.”
Roeder, 51, faces life in prison after being convicted of first- degree murder.
Roeder also was convicted on two counts of aggravated assault for threatening to shoot church ushers Keith Martin and Gary Hoep- ner as he fled Reformation Lutheran Church after murdering Tiller.
Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement after the verdict, “Today, justice was served for Dr. Tiller, his family and abortion providers who live in fear of physical attacks, harassment and intimidation every day. The jury swiftly and unanimously convicted Mr. Roeder, rejecting his defense for cold-blooded murder. Dr. Tiller’s shooting was a calculated crime by Mr. Roeder’s own admission, and that is the definition of premeditated murder.”
Whether Roeder shot Tiller, 67, at point-blank range in the forehead at Tiller’s church in Wichita in May was never at issue; Roeder had admitted it to reporters, in court filings and finally to a jury Thursday. He also said he had been stalking Tiller since at least 1999.
At a news conference after the verdict, Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston said she was surprised the jury of seven men and five women came back so quickly. About 37 minutes after the judge excused them for deliberations, they signed the verdict form.
Foulston said she expected to ask that Roeder be sent to prison for 50 years at his March 9 sentencing.
She said the Tiller family would be invited to make statements to the court at that time and expressed appreciation they were in court every day.
Public defender Mark Rudy said Roeder knew as soon as the judge refused to allow the jury to consider voluntary manslaughter that he would be convicted of murder. The case, said Rudy, was “hopeless” after that.