Like I predicted, the judge gave the defense the opportunity to make a legal case for a lesser charge, and they failed to make it:
The judge in the trial of a man accused of murdering an abortion doctor dealt the defense a severe setback yesterday, ruling that the jury cannot consider a lesser charge of manslaughter.
The ruling came hours after Scott Roeder took the stand in his defense and admitted killing Dr. George Tiller, saying he acted to save the lives of unborn children.
So now Roeder has confessed to the crime and there is no defense.
Also, good for the judge for doing this:
Earlier yesterday, the judge barred former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline from testifying for the defense after listening to a preview of Kline's testimony without the jury present.
Kline investigated Tiller's clinic, Women's Health Care Services, in 2006 because he suspected Tiller was violating state laws pertaining to late-term abortion. The case was later dropped because of jurisdictional issues.
Wilbert said much of Kline's testimony would have amounted to "exactly what this court seeks to avoid . . . a referendum on abortion."
Comments