A man accused of fatally shooting one of the US’s few late-term abortion providers was found guilty of first-degree murder yesterday 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 across the US to support Roeder.
Abortion has been one of the US’s most contentious and divisive issues for decades, affecting everything from local and national elections to the selection of US supreme court judges.
Roeder admitted he stalked and shot to death Dr George Tiller (67) on May 31st last year as Dr Tiller attended church in Wichita. 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 9th. 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.
Dr Tiller was long a top target of anti-abortion activists and had been shot and wounded before. He was one of only a few US 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 legalised in a landmark 1973 US 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.
“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 for an investigation into a larger conspiracy by anti-abortion activists to commit violent acts against abortion providers.
Anti-abortion activists from across the US, including the founder of 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 Dr Tiller as a murderer.
Other anti-abortion groups, however, distanced themselves from violence against abortion providers.
Cheryl Sullenger of Operation Rescue, which Mr Terry led until 1991, reiterated the group’s denunciation of Dr Tiller’s murder, but said the organisation 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.”