DA withdraws Hard 50 for Scott Roeder

Posted: Wed 8:44 AM, Nov 23, 2016 | Updated: Wed 10:28 PM, Nov 23, 2016 The Sedgwick County District Attorney has withdrawn the Hard 50 sentence against Scott Roeder. Marc Bennett asked a judge this morning to default Roeder to life in prison with a chance of parole in 25 years. Roeder was also sentenced to 24 months on three counts of aggravated battery, those would be added to the end of that 25 years. Roeder was sentenced to the Hard 50 in 2010 after being convicted of murdering Wichita abortion provider, Dr. George Tiller. That Hard 50 was among many vacated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that juries, not judges, must decide whether to increase punishment. His re-sentencing trial was set to begin on Monday. Bennett says the decision was made after discussing with Tiller's family. He says the change in the sentence will spare the family, the community, the court system and the witnesses from another trial, which could last two to three weeks. After the hearing, Bennett read a statement from the family which read, in part: "There will be no further legal hearing or recourse afforded him. With this legal closure, the Dr. George Tiller family will continue to heal and thrive and live fully in our communities. We wish to convey our gratitude to all our friends and allies that have stood by Dr. Tiller and our family for many, many years." Bennett says, even with the new sentence, it is highly unlikely Roeder will ever get out of prison. Roeder will be 76 before he will see a parole board. Even if he's granted parole, he will still need to serve the additional 24 months. Some feel he deserved a harsher sentence. The Trust Women Foundation, which has continued Dr. Tiller's work by opening clinics that offer abortion care, released a statement saying in part, "There is not a day at our clinics that we don't remember Dr. Tiller and his dedication to women"..."The extremist who murdered Dr. Tiller deserves the maximum sentence allowed by law."