US abortionist murderer facing life

A man who admitted fatally shooting a US late-term abortionist at a Kansas church has been found...

A man who admitted fatally shooting a US late-term abortionist at a Kansas church has been found guilty of first-degree murder and is now facing a life sentence.

Defence lawyers for Scott Roeder, 51, had planned to argue for the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, as he believed Dr George Tiller was a threat to unborn children. However, the judge threw out that possibility and instructed jurors to choose between acquittal and conviction.

They returned a guilty verdict in just 37 minutes. While giving evidence, Roeder had confessed to putting a .22-calibre gun to Dr Tiller's forehead and shooting.

Prosecuting lawyers avoided the topic of abortion during the trial, arguing that the defendant, from Kansas City, Missouri, was a calculating killer who planned the crime meticulously.

After the jury's verdict, defence attorney Mark Rudy said Roeder's case was "helpless and hopeless", adding: "I've never seen anyone lay himself out as much as Mr Roeder did."

Pro-choice campaigners said militant members of the anti-abortion movement should pay heed to the conviction.

It should be a "deterrent to those that that are considering following in Roeder's footsteps", said Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation.

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