Scott Roeder

Seemingly contradicting his own public statements, an attorney for the man accused of gunning down a Kansas abortion provider has argued in court documents that his client has an "absolute right" to present a defense that argues the killing was justified to stop abortion. A defense motion made public Monday seeks to thwart prosecutors' efforts to ban the so-called necessity defense from Scott Roeder's murder and aggravated assault trial. A hearing on the issue is set for Dec. 22. "For the Court to grant the State's motion to prohibit `any evidence' in support of the necessity defense would be premature, and contrary to Kansas ... Read Full Story

Lawyers for a man who has publicly admitted killing a Kansas abortion provider are seeking to move the trial out of Wichita. Scott Roeder is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 11 in Sedgwick County District Court. The 51-year-old Kansas City, Mo., man is charged with first-degree murder in the May 31 shooting death of Dr. George Tiller. In an interview Monday from jail, Roeder told The Associated Press he had no regrets about shooting Tiller and believes it was justified to save unborn children. Roeder's public defenders filed a motion for a change of venue on Tuesday. They argue that potential jurors have ... Read Full Story

Defiant and unapologetic, a man accused of shooting a Kansas abortion provider confessed to the slaying Monday, telling The Associated Press that he killed the doctor to protect unborn children. Scott Roeder, 51, of Kansas City, Mo., spoke to the AP in a telephone call from jail, saying he plans to argue at his trial that he was justified in shooting Dr. George Tiller at the abortion provider's Wichita church in May. "Because of the fact preborn children's lives were in imminent danger this was the action I chose. ... I want to make sure that the focus is, of course, obviously on the ... Read Full Story

Online retailer eBay said Tuesday it will block an auction planned to raise money for the man charged with killing Kansas abortion provider George Tiller. Supporters of the man had said that they wanted to raise money to pay for Scott Roeder's defense. They planned to auction off items including an Army of God manual, an underground publication for anti-abortion militants that describes ways to shut down clinics, including bombing. Also on the auction list was a prison cookbook compiled by Shelley Shannon, the Oregon woman who shot and wounded Tiller in 1993 and was later convicted in a series of abortion clinic arsons ... Read Full Story

Online retailer EBay is blocking an auction to raise money for the defense of the man accused of killing Kansas abortion provider George Tiller. EBay said in a statement Tuesday the auction would violate its policy on "offensive material." Scott Roeder is charged with first-degree murder in the May 31 shooting of Tiller at the doctor's Wichita church. Supporters of Roeder said they wanted to auction off items including an Army of God manual, which is an underground publication for anti-abortion militants that describes ways to shut down clinics, including bombing. Dave Leach is an Iowa abortion opponent organizing the auction. He says he ... Read Full Story