Accused Tiller killer took target practice, prosecution says
By Judy L. Thomas | Kansas City Star
WICHITA — The man accused of killing Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller bought a gun the week before the slaying and practiced shooting it near Topeka the day before Tiller's death, prosecutors said today.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston laid out the prosecution’s case during opening statements of Scott Roeder’s murder trial, describing to jurors the events the morning Tiller was killed.
“It was Scott Roeder who with premeditation and with intent killed Dr. George Tiller on May 31,” she said.
Roeder, 51, of Kansas City, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Tiller, one of a handful of doctors in the country who performed late-term abortions. Tiller, 67, was shot May 31 while ushering in his church. Roeder also faces two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly threatening two other ushers who chased him as he fled.
Roeder has admitted to reporters and in a court filing that he killed Tiller, saying it was necessary to save unborn babies.
The evidence portion of the trial began Friday — the 37th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized abortion — after a six-day jury selection process, most of which was behind closed doors.
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