Just 37 minutes for the jury to deliberate and to come up with the verdict of GUILTY in the first-degree murder of Dr. George Tiller. Sentencing for Scott Roeder will be presented on March 9th.
"A Kansas jury deliberated just 37 minutes before convicting an anti-abortion activist of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an abortion provider.
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.
Tiller's family said the jury reached a "just" verdict.
"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," the family said in a written statement.
A day earlier, Roeder told jurors he had shot Tiller in the foyer of Reformation Lutheran Church as Sunday services began. Testifying as his only defense witness, he said he believed he had to kill Tiller to save lives. He said he had no regrets.
"There was nothing being done, and the legal process had been exhausted, and these babies were dying every day," Roeder said. "I felt that if someone did not do something, he was going to continue."
"His testimony was delivered very matter-of-factly, but its contents were chillingly horrific," prosecutor Ann Swengel said in her closing argument. "He carried out a planned assassination, and there can be no other verdict in this case ... other than guilty." Link
This animal is also found guilty of aggravated assault! After shooting Tiller in the head at point-blank range, he pointed his gun at 2 church ushers who tried to apprehend Roeder. This murder was pure pre-mediation. Roeder had a target. He planned out his attack. He case out the church in the weeks prior. He purchased the .22 caliber at a pawn shop to be used as the deadly weapon of choice.
This abortion debate will NEVER be resolve - especially in my lifetime.
This topic still galvanize the political divide. Americans would vote for or against a candidate solely base on this one issue.
We talk about life vs choice.
How ironic it is for Roeder to choose to terminate another life.
Roeder may have stopped one doctor in performing abortions - but there will still be women out there who would choose to terminate their pregnancy. Therefore there will be doctors who will continue to serve the public by providing this service.
This crime will not end abortions in this country - it actually strengthens it!
