In a bizarre twist to what otherwise seemed to be a cut and dry murder trial, Scott Roeder, the militant anti-abortionist who gunned down infamous late-term abortion provider George Tiller, may get a chance to defend his actions as "necessary" to stop the killing of unborn children.
From csmonitor.com:
Scott Roeder has admitted to gunning down George Tiller in the vestibule of his church in May 2009. Mr. Roeder is charged with first-degree murder, but late last week, his defense lawyers persuaded the judge in the case, Warren Wilbert, to allow them to argue that their client's actions warrant the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.Voluntary manslaughter is applied in cases when a defendant acts believing that his or her actions are justified. Roeder has insisted his actions were justified because they prevented Dr. Tiller from performing further abortions. Some call this a "necessity defense" argument.
The necessity-defense argument has not been permitted in other high-profile abortion-related trials, including that of Paul Hill, who received the death sentence for killing an abortion doctor in 1994; and James Kopp, who is serving a life sentence for killing an abortion doctor in 1998.
I'm no law scholar, but, to me, this seems nuts.
What's next? If a person believes the use of gasoline is contributing to the death of the environment, would he be able to present his case that he was "justified" in killing the gas station attendant since he feels it's his part to prevent world disaster?
Roeder acted on the pre-meditated belief that what he was doing was socially justifiable, and it was his obligation to do it. There is a big difference in a wife who murdered her physically abusive husband out of self-defense than some kook who kills another person because he disagrees with his actions.
In the opinion of many, Tiller was a murderer. He killed babies for profit. While his actions were legal, they were a horrible product of a society which feels that responsible behavior is not a valued trait, and that self-absorbed gratification is a right in all its forms.
Roeder is a killer. Both men are despicable, but, Tiller had a right to live.
For the justice system to possibly allow this twisted precedent to proceed, will add another injustice to an already sad situation.
Permalink | Linking Blogs | Sphere: Related Content | Digg this! | FARK It!
Filed under:
Abortion, Justice
Tags: George Tiller, Scott Roeder
Comments (28)
"For the justice system to ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by GarandFan | January 12, 2010 4:58 PM | Score: 2 (8 votes cast)
"For the justice system to possibly allow this twisted precedent to proceed, will add another injustice to an already sad situation."
The precedent this would establish is mind-boggling. And there are enough stupid fucking jurors who would buy it.
1. Posted by GarandFan | January 12, 2010 4:58 PM |
Score: 2 (8 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 16:58
2. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | January 12, 2010 4:58 PM | Score: 1 (7 votes cast)
I don't support abortion, because it is murder.
I can't support Roeder, because... he's a murderer.
Abortion, no matter how I may feel about it, is legal in the US. Murder to prevent abortion is not. I just cannot muster a mitigating factor that would justify giving this nut a lesser charge that doesn't include the word "murder".
2. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | January 12, 2010 4:58 PM |
Score: 1 (7 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 16:58
3. Posted by bobdog | January 12, 2010 5:30 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Sounds like a dispositive defense for political assassination to me.
A crazy idea that may just have some currency.
3. Posted by bobdog | January 12, 2010 5:30 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 17:30
4. Posted by Big Mo | January 12, 2010 5:32 PM | Score: -2 (6 votes cast)
GarandFan - Remember the Menendez brothers in California who shotgunned their parents, went outside and reloaded, and went back in to finish the job? The jury acquitted them because, in the words of one juror, the boys now had to live without their parents.
So, I have no doubt some idiots on a jury would end up buying this pretzel logic.
4. Posted by Big Mo | January 12, 2010 5:32 PM |
Score: -2 (6 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 17:32
5. Posted by bryanD | January 12, 2010 5:36 PM | Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
Whatever happened to the patented ticking time bomb defense?
5. Posted by bryanD | January 12, 2010 5:36 PM |
Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 17:36
6. Posted by jim m | January 12, 2010 5:42 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Mo -
The Menendez brothers are currently doing consecutive life sentences for being convicted of the first degree murder of their parents. And they argued that their crimes were justified by a life of abuse at the hands of their parents. The first trial ended in a hung jury the second jury convicted. Get the facts straight.
Regardless, this guy is scum and deserves life at the very least. Whatever you think of abortion (and I and pro-life) murder is not the appropriate avenue to seek redress.
6. Posted by jim m | January 12, 2010 5:42 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 17:42
7. Posted by GianiD | January 12, 2010 5:46 PM | Score: -3 (11 votes cast)
Killing Ted Bundy saved lives. Killing George Tiller saved even more lives. And that's all I have to say about that!
7. Posted by GianiD | January 12, 2010 5:46 PM |
Score: -3 (11 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 17:46
8. Posted by P. Bunyan | January 12, 2010 5:47 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
The only reason abortion is legal nationwide in the US is because of the Judicial system. The Constitution does not allow for it and the Supreme court never really had the legal justification to do what they did. So if the Judicial system wants to allow for this defense I'm o.k. with it.
I don't think believing that killing to save the lives of innocent babies is justified makes you a "stupid fucker".
8. Posted by P. Bunyan | January 12, 2010 5:47 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 17:47
9. Posted by iwogisdead | January 12, 2010 5:51 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Five will getcha ten the judge ain't, either. But, the judge knows that the worst that can happen (to the judge) is for the appellate court to flip the conviction and send it back for another 6 month trial. The judge is eliminating as many appellate issues as possible.
But, for fun, let's use a hypothetical--your daughter's insane ex-husband is walking over to her house with a gun in his hand. At what point do you get to blow him away?
9. Posted by iwogisdead | January 12, 2010 5:51 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 17:51
10. Posted by Big Mo | January 12, 2010 5:55 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
jim m - thanks, I messed up my facts.
10. Posted by Big Mo | January 12, 2010 5:55 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 17:55
11. Posted by hcddbz | January 12, 2010 6:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
As disgusting as I find Tiller, I cannot see these defenses.
Now if it was used against the Doctors in Chicago who took children and put them in Linen closet to suffer and die alone. Well those doctors I could see that defense .
11. Posted by hcddbz | January 12, 2010 6:41 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 18:41
12. Posted by Clay | January 12, 2010 7:21 PM | Score: -4 (4 votes cast)
Killing George Tiller saved even more lives.
What's the difference between Scott Roeder and George Tiller? One thinks he's God. The other thought he was.
12. Posted by Clay | January 12, 2010 7:21 PM |
Score: -4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 19:21
13. Posted by Jay Guevara | January 12, 2010 7:39 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
The law is the law. Fry Roeder. I hold no brief for Tiller, but Roeder should fry.
Also fry whatever asshole keeps putting the ads on this site that blare "Congratulations!" I'm sick of it. Lose the ad, or lose a reader.
13. Posted by Jay Guevara | January 12, 2010 7:39 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 19:39
14. Posted by retired military | January 12, 2010 8:12 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
"What's next? If a person believes the use of gasoline is contributing to the death of the environment, would he be able to present his case that he was "justified" in killing the gas station attendant since he feels it's his part to prevent world disaster"
Dont give the leftist judges any ideas.
14. Posted by retired military | January 12, 2010 8:12 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 20:12
15. Posted by Myronhalo | January 12, 2010 8:53 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Don't babies have a right to live?
I'm "pro-choice": I believe the babies should have just as much of a choice as big people do about whether they will live or not.
No other human being, including the parents should make that choice for them.
15. Posted by Myronhalo | January 12, 2010 8:53 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 20:53
16. Posted by 914 | January 12, 2010 8:56 PM | Score: -2 (6 votes cast)
Tiller is now maggot filler. Roeder will have his day in court. The unborns will not.
16. Posted by 914 | January 12, 2010 8:56 PM |
Score: -2 (6 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 20:56
17. Posted by sam | January 12, 2010 9:21 PM | Score: 0 (8 votes cast)
Think of Tiller's killing as a really late late-term abortion.
17. Posted by sam | January 12, 2010 9:21 PM |
Score: 0 (8 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 21:21
18. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | January 12, 2010 9:23 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Just a reminder: Tiller required complicity to commit murder. Every time he killed, a mother assisted him.
Judging what a person 'believes' is a slippery slope. Mind-read much? Probably every Islamic terrorist believes his or her 'actions are justified.' Not much of a basis for adjudicating crimes. Tell it to a liberal though. They all think they can read minds, e.g. 'hate crimes.'
18. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | January 12, 2010 9:23 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 21:23
19. Posted by GianiD | January 12, 2010 9:34 PM | Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
How many moonbats really consider the baby when they argue their pro-abortion stance? I have as much respect for Tiller as the moonbats have for unborn babies.
19. Posted by GianiD | January 12, 2010 9:34 PM |
Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 21:34
20. Posted by Gmac | January 12, 2010 10:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Tiller and Roeder are both murderers. The only differences are that Roeder is still alive and what Tiller did was legally sanctioned.
20. Posted by Gmac | January 12, 2010 10:29 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2010 22:29
21. Posted by ThomasD | January 13, 2010 12:22 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It may be nuts, but right now in Kansas it's the law. The judge really had little choice given the clear language, language that is not typical of many other states. Had the judge chosen to ignore this fact he'd be setting up the entire proceeding to be thrown out on appeal.
The prosecution can howl all they want about the lack of an imminent threat - they would have a point, if such conditions were mentioned in the law. But since the law does not mention any temporal specifics they do not.
Watch for the KS legislature to significantly alter the legislation verbiage pronto.
21. Posted by ThomasD | January 13, 2010 12:22 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2010 00:22
22. Posted by Flu-Bird | January 13, 2010 12:29 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Are thS DEFey coWmming up with another TWINKIES DEFENSE by another suck up lawyers scum?
22. Posted by Flu-Bird | January 13, 2010 12:29 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2010 00:29
23. Posted by Oyster | January 13, 2010 6:18 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
"Voluntary manslaughter is applied in cases when a defendant acts believing that his or her actions are justified."
Yeah right. And a pedophile thinks the children he molests are consenting.
23. Posted by Oyster | January 13, 2010 6:18 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2010 06:18
24. Posted by Sean Sorrentino | January 13, 2010 7:39 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I think that this helps the jury play "Spot the Idiot." when someone rants on about the evils of anything he generally loses his audience. do you think for a second this guy will be able to play it cool and calm on the stand? naw, it'll be another "You cant HANDLE the TRUTH!!!!1111eleventy!!" moment. he'll dig his own grave. he'd be better off shutting his mouth and hoping someone in the jury felt the same way as he does. he'll fry, and good riddance to him.
24. Posted by Sean Sorrentino | January 13, 2010 7:39 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2010 07:39
25. Posted by 914 | January 13, 2010 11:01 AM | Score: 0 (4 votes cast)
"Voluntary manslaughter is applied in cases when a defendant acts believing that his or her actions are justified."
Yeah right. And a pedophile thinks the children he molests are consenting."
The pedophiles victims are innocent, Tillers victims were innocent. Roeders victim was not.
25. Posted by 914 | January 13, 2010 11:01 AM |
Score: 0 (4 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2010 11:01
26. Posted by Flu-Bird | January 13, 2010 11:17 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
And those PETA idiots tried to use the tiller murder to push their stupid vegan agenda
26. Posted by Flu-Bird | January 13, 2010 11:17 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2010 11:17
27. Posted by Oyster | January 13, 2010 3:53 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
"Whatever happened to the patented ticking time bomb defense?"
Unless they had intended to waterboard him, what's your point?
27. Posted by Oyster | January 13, 2010 3:53 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2010 15:53
28. Posted by 914 | January 14, 2010 12:10 AM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
"The pedophiles victims are innocent, Tillers victims were innocent. Roeders victim was not.
25. Posted by 914 | January 13, 2010 11:01 AM | Thanks for voting!Score: -1 (3 votes cast)"
What kind of pervert votes negative on this comment?
Sicko
28. Posted by 914 | January 14, 2010 12:10 AM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 14, 2010 00:10