Roeder-Tiller abortion trial already a mockery of justice By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Roeder-Tiller abortion trial already a mockery of justice

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Scott Roeder admits he shot and killed abortion provider George Tiller at Sunday church services in May 2009. So Roeder's a murderer, right?

Maybe not, and that's just one shocking development already in a trial that hasn't even begun.

But already, the case appears ready to draw national attention to Wichita and Kansas, and to the whole abortion issue.

On Monday, the trial was postponed for at least a day as prosecutors appealed a key ruling by the judge.

Judge Warren Wilbert last week opened the door for Roeder to essentially claim he thought he had a good reason to kill Tiller to save the lives of unborn babies.

If Roeder can convince the jury, Wilbert indicated, he could walk away convicted only of voluntary manslaughter. That carries a far less harsh sentence than the first-degree murder charge Roeder now faces.

A conviction on voluntary manslaughter charges would have to abide by Kansas statutes, that the death was based on "an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force."

Pro-abortion forces were understandably concerned about the judge's ruling, which prosecutors are appealing this week.

"Allowing an argument that this coldblooded, premeditated murder could be voluntary manslaughter will embolden anti-abortion extremists and could result in 'open season' on doctors across the country," said Katherine Spillar, executive vice president of Feminist Majority Foundation.

That's exactly why prosecutors should try to overturn the judge's decision that Roeder might be convicted only of voluntary manslaughter.

Submitted by Yael T. Abouhalkah on January 11, 2010 - 11:15am.